RALLYING: Leroy Sané asks for a big second-half performance from the Blues.
A brave late fightback wasn't enough to prevent City slipping to their first Premier League defeat of the season at Anfield.
Pos Team P GD Pts 1 Manchester City 23 +50 62 2 Manchester United 22 +29 47 3 Liverpool 23 +26 47 4 Chelsea 23 +25 47
Leroy Sané, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan all found the target, but a three-goal blast inside nine minutes midway through the second secured victory for Liverpool.
In a seesaw match, Sane cancelled out Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's early strike to leave the game poised at 1-1 at the break. But quickfire goals from Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mo Salah put the hosts 4-1 up on 67 minutes before City threatened to stage a remarkable late recovery.
What happened?
Pep Guardiola made six changes from the side which secured a 2-1 Carabao Cup semi-final first leg win over Bristol City in midweek.
Ederson, Kyle Walker, Fabian Delph, Nicolas Otamendi, Fernandinho and Sergio Aguero all returned to the starting line-up while David Silva was named as one of the substitutes.
The weather may have been freezing on Merseyside but a high-intensity start from both sides soon warmed up a capacity Anfield crowd as Liverpool and City looked to probe and press.
And it was the hosts who drew first blood as they got off a flying start with Oxlade-Chamberlain opening the scoring on nine minutes.
enlarge SO CLOSE: Sergio Aguero can't believe he hasn't scored SO CLOSE: Sergio Aguero can't believe he hasn't scored
The former Arsenal wide man exploited a gap in the City back line and was able to drive forward unchallenged before firing a right-foot past Ederson into the right-hand corner of the net.
Falling behind so early appeared to interrupt the Blues' normal rhythm and fluency but City gradually rediscovered the form that has lit up the league this term.
Sergio Aguero almost met a Kevin De Bruyne cross before a deflected shot by Sané was just inches off target.
Liverpool remained a constant threat with Salah heading just wide from Oxlade-Chamberlain's cross but City stayed on the front foot, taking the game to the hosts and deservedly drew level on 40 minutes.
Kyle Walker was the architect, drilling a sensational 45-yard crossfield ball to Sané. It enabled the German winger to evade Joe Gomez and he ran inside the left channel before unleashing a vicious shot which evaded 'keeper Loris Karius at the near-post in front of the jubilant City fans.
The travelling Blues were almost celebrating again four minutes later as Fernandinho's rasping shot just evaded the Liverpool goal to sum up a high-octane, high-quality first 45 minutes.
City remained on the offensive straight from the restart and came agonisingly close to taking the lead in the 50th minute when a superb header from Nicolas Otamendi struck the Liverpool crossbar.
enlarge LEVEL BEST: Leroy Sane celebrates after his fine first-half goal LEVEL BEST: Leroy Sane celebrates after his fine first-half goal
However Jurgen Klopp's side were still causing problems and Ederson was called into action to keep out Salah's thunderous drive before then parrying his cross-cum-shot over the bar.
Then, against the run of play, the game turned on its head in a disastrous nine-minute spell which saw Liverpool score three times.
On 59 minutes Liverpool regained the lead and Oxlade-Chamberlain was the creator this time, feeding Firmino who first shrugged off John Stones with a robust challenge before then curling a shot past Ederson and inside the post.
The Blues were rocked on their heels and within two minutes Liverpool had struck again.
Mane had hit the post with a snap shot before then making no mistake with a fine 61st left-foot shot which gave Ederson no chance after Salah had robbed Otamendi.
It then went from bad to worse on 67 minutes. Ederson ran out from his box to cut-out a through ball but his clearance instead went straight to Salah. From 35 yards out, the Egyptian curled a fine shot over the keeper and into the net.
City should have reduced the arrears on 78 minutes when Otamendi failed to convert De Bruyne's excellent in-swinging cross.
enlarge OFF DAY: Fabian Delph had t be taken off with a first-half injury OFF DAY: Fabian Delph had t be taken off with a first-half injury
But the Blues did find the target on 83 minutes to offer some hope when substitute Bernardo Silva picked up a deflected cross and then drifted inside before producing a fine crisp finish.
And never-say-die City further added to the Anfield nerves in the first minute of added time when Ilkay Gundogan finished from close-range after a fine pass from Aguero.
With the last meaningful act of the game, Aguero agonisingly headed inches past the post from a De Bruyne free-kick as City almost completed an incredible comeback - though the flag was raised anyway.
Pep will now rally his troops ahead of next week's game with Newcastle...
Key moment
Nicolas Otamendi's 50th minute header that smacked the Liverpool crossbar. At the time the game was evenly poised at 1-1.
Who knows what the final outcome would have been had Nico's effort gone in?
Star man
Sané never stopped running and working for the cause and his stunning first-half goal was rich reward for what was another fine individual performance from the young German.
What does it mean?
In terms of the league. Nothing has really changed. City are still 15 points clear ahead of Manchester United's home game with Stoke on Monday night. If United win, City's lead would be cut to 12 points.
What's next?
City resume Premier League action next Saturday when the Blues entertain Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium, kick-off 5.30pm.
Manchester City's unbeaten run was finally brought to an end at Anfield on Sunday evening as a vibrant and energised Liverpool side secured a thrilling 4-3 victory against Pep Guardiola's visitors.
It was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who opened the scoring after just nine minutes, drilling home a fine strike from outside the City box to put his side in control.
The visitors equalised through Leroy Sane five minutes before the break but Liverpool's lead was restored after the restart, with Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohammed Salah all finding the back of the net.
City hit back late through Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan to put a stunning comeback on the cards but Jurgen Klopp's men held on for a memorable victory.
Manchester City's unbeaten run finally comes to an end
24 show all Manchester City's unbeaten run finally comes to an end
1/24 City's unbeaten run ended at last Liverpool finally ended Manchester City's 22-match unbeaten run by winning at Anfield. Getty
2/24 Brighton 0 Manchester City 2 Getty Images
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24/24 Liverpool 4 Manchester City 1 Premier League games unbeaten: 22 AFP/Getty Images
Here are five things we learned:
Oxlade-Chamberlain seizes his chance to shine
Having sold Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for a staggering £142m, one of Liverpool’s main challenges for the months ahead now concerns adapting and refashioning the side’s front line in the wake of the Brazilian’s departure.
On this occasion, Jurgen Klopp opted to put his trust in the increasingly impressive Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who sparkled today under the bright lights at Anfield. With Adam Lallana back from injury, this was the former Arsenal man's big chance to prove to Klopp why he deserves a spot in Liverpool’s starting XI.
It took just nine minutes for the player to do just that, putting the hosts ahead with a stunning, low-driven shot that means he’s now scored more goals for Liverpool than he managed in any one individual season at Arsenal.
From there, Oxlade-Chamberlain moved from strength to strength as he asserted himself within the visitors’ final third through both his physicality and high-quality deliveries from the flank. This performance was reinforced by a renewed sense of confidence in the player, which was evidenced by his powerful runs into the box and numerous attempts on goal. A fantastic display in all that bodes well for the months ahead.
Oxlade-Chamberlain celebrates his goal (Getty)
Coutinho who?
The so-called ‘fab four’ may no longer exist but Liverpool’s front men showed there’s life post-Coutinho at Anfield. Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Mohammed Salah and Oxlade-Chamberlain all looked sharp, spirited and hungry as they set about cutting open the visitors’ defence with their mazy runs and smart passing.
Alongside Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mane was at the heart of much of Liverpool’s surging forward movements. From dropping deep to reclaim possession to his clever flicks and tricks, the Senegalese brought a real energy to the hosts – especially when bearing down on City’s penalty area.
News that Naby Keita won’t be joining Liverpool this January may have stirred some concern among fans ahead of kick-off but, on the back of today’s performance, it’s certainly clear that Liverpool have the strength and quality within themselves to cope following Coutinho’s departure.
Coutinho was unveiled as a Barcelona player on Monday (Getty)
City’s left-back curse strikes again
After signing for £50m in the summer, Benjamin Mendy lasted just five games before being forced onto the sidelines with a long-term ACL injury. As such, Pep Guardiola was forced to turn elsewhere in search of a viable replacement. Enter Fabian Delph. The midfielder was subsequently refashioned as a left-back and, initially, filled the gap in City’s backline.
But he’s ultimately struggled to match the high standards expected by Guardiola and today was forced off early after over-extending himself in a challenge on Oxlade-Chamberlain. How long he’ll be sidelined for remains unclear but once again City find themselves with a dilemma at left-back. It’s a position of weakness for the club and given their previous, there’s every chance they could look to sign another defender this January.
Pep Guardiola's side finally came outstuck when up against Liverpool (Getty)
Defending remains point of vulnerability for Guardiola’s side
On the topic of defending, this was confirmation that City’s backline can be ruthlessly exploited and is far from the finished product. Liverpool’s second, third and fourth goal all came as a result of the visitors' poor decision-making at the back.
For Firmino’s second, John Stones failed to clear Oxlade-Chamberlain’s dissecting pass, opting to go shoulder to shoulder with the forward only to be muscled out of the way before the Brazilian dinked the ball over Ederson and into the back of the net. Nicolas Otamendi was at fault for the third, with his failed clearance paving the way for Salah to lay off Mane in front of goal. It was a similar story with the fourth as Ederson fired his own clearance into Salah, with the Egyptian doing the rest from 35-odd yards out.
It was a nine-minute spell in which City’s composure at the back snapped and crumbled under the weight of Liverpool’s attacking prowess. Alongside the upset of actually losing a match, to do so in such fashion will have struck a significant psychological blow to the side. Unbeatables no more.
Stones had a poor game and struggled against Firmino (Getty)
Robertson gets the better of Sterling
What a revelation Andrew Robertson has been. Having made just 10 league appearances this season, today’s performance may well have just secured the Scot a permanent position in Klopp’s first team.
Against the talent of Raheem Sterling, Robertson was assured and disciplined throughout. Up until the winger’s substitution in the 71st minute, the Scot had his opposite man firmly tucked away in his back bottom as he repeatedly dispossessed and disrupted the City player out on the flank. Equally composed and physically dominant, it was no real match.
Robertson in action for the Reds (Getty)
However, the same can't quite be said about his team-mates at the back whose questionable defending in the dying minutes of the match almost saw all Liverpool's hard work come undone. The Reds held on but it was another reminder that Virgil van Dijk, sidelined with an injury, is desperately needed to tighten up the hosts' permeable backline.
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Manchester City are just unbelievable at the moment, a team full of stars – but, more importantly, a team instilled with a great work ethic by Pep Guardiola.
And that’s why the City manager will be able to mould this outstanding group of players into winners.
Offensively, City have players who, on any given day, can win a game.
But what I really like about them is that the manager has instilled in them a team ethic.
So, as much as they have got unbelievably top-class players that can win games on their own, they are also a well-disciplined unit, who have completely gelled.
Yes, there are great individuals – Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero.
Talented players in their own right, but I believe they have all come on in leaps and bounds because they play as part of a team.
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
You have to give the manager so much credit for achieving that.
The players have bought into it and are prepared to do the tough things as well.
Football isn’t just about fantastic, attacking play, it’s about putting in the hard miles.
Winners do all that.
They work just as hard defensively as offensively.
Importantly, they have solved a weakness surrounding the goalkeeping position. Again, for that, you have to admire Guardiola.
He had looked at Manchester City before he arrived and decided they needed a new goalkeeper.
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
He left Joe Hart out and went and brought in Claudio Bravo.
After a short time, he realised it wasn’t working, so he went out and bought a new one, Ederson.
That tells you something about him.
Regardless of whether they are winning, he’s done something about that position in the team.
Some managers would have brushed it aside, having spent the cash to improve things.
He wasn’t scared to admit he’d made a mistake and go again.
And, for me, that is absolute class. He’s a perfectionist, who won’t settle for second best.
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
City are great to watch, easy on the eye, score goals, but, defensively, they are a lot more solid than they were.
Up front, Aguero is a class player.
It helps when you are tactically very good and very astute.
But also, when you are playing with so many good players around you, you know you are going to get more chances. Set up Aguero and, eight times out of 10, you know there is a goal coming.
Fair play to the boss – and to Aguero – because, when Pep first came, I don’t think he looked upon Sergio as his ideal striker.
Now, he looks brilliant under Guardiola. He’s on a good run of goals, eight in his last nine games. Everything about him looks good.
(Image: Manchester City FC)
Also, we have already mentioned the work ethic and his seems to have improved under the present manager.
He is now more of a complete player.
Aguero was still very good before Guardiola arrived, but, under him, I believe he has gone up a notch.
Raheem Sterling, for me, has always been a good player.
At times, he let himself down with his final decision- making, but he has worked hard on his game and improved.
Even though he is still young in years, he is now a more experienced player. Also, Raheem would have looked around at the players he is alongside and would know that, if he doesn’t produce, City would just bring somebody else in.
He knew he had to up his game and, fair play to him, he has.
(Image: Stu Forster)
Who wouldn’t want to be part of this set-up under Pep?
I love man-managers who have got a bit about them and, in that respect, he ticks every box.
He is tactically and technically superb. But his man-management skills are unbelievable.
You can see how much the City stars enjoy playing for him.
Every player in world football, or who has ever played, would love to be part of something like that.
Imagine the joy of playing for a team who are expansive, a team who are always scoring goals, who have got an unbelievable manager.
But, hopefully, Liverpool can still beat them today!
They will be going into the game quietly optimistic because of their recent, encouraging performances.
This has the makings of a real classic game – top, top players, which should guarantee goals.
Hopefully, today will turn out to be one of the reasons we all love football.
The fact that many people can’t predict the final result shows how far Liverpool have come recently.
Both teams have been playing well and, on their day, either of them can beat anyone else in the Premier League.
