Manchester (AFP)
Manchester City recovered from a goal down with a massive 4-1 win over Liverpool in their 29th Premier League matchday to stay in title contention with leaders Arsenal.
Egyptian international Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead (17), but the hosts responded strongly with Argentine Julian Alvarez (27), Belgian Kevin De Bruyne (46), German Ilkay Gundogan (53) and Jack Grealish (74). .
Spanish coach Pep Guardiola’s team added the fourth consecutive victory in the league and reduced the gap to 5 points with Arsenal (69 points), which will then receive Leeds United, remembering that City’s game was postponed.
City and Arsenal will face off at the Etihad Stadium on April 26 in a game that could prove decisive as Arsenal bid to clinch the Premier League title for the first time since 2004.
City have had a relatively easier journey than their rivals on paper in the last few metres, but they are distracted by a Champions League quarter-final, an early clash with German giants Bayern Munich and a Cup semi-final. FA against Sheffield United as the Gunslingers. Farewell to the Europa League and the Continental Cup.
City secured their first league win against Liverpool almost two years ago after Salah’s goal in the first leg of the season against Liverpool, before avenging themselves by being knocked out of the League Cup.
Jurgen Klopp’s German team suffered the second consecutive defeat and are seven points away from the last qualifying place for the Champions League.
City scored four goals despite being without Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, who has scored 42 goals for his side in all competitions this season, due to a thigh injury.
Before half-time, Haaland scored eight goals in two games, five against Leipzig in the Champions League and a hat-trick against Burnley in the Cup.
City also lost another striker, Phil Foden, after having surgery last week to remove his appendix, while Uruguayan Darwin Nunes started on the Liverpool bench with a minor injury, replaced by Portugal’s Diogo Jota, alongside Salah and Dutch. Cody Jacobo.
City dominated the first half as Spaniard Rodri’s powerful shot was blocked by Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker (11) before Algerian Riyad Mahrez curled a free kick inches from the post (15).
Against the run of the game, Trent Alexander-Arnold took advantage of a gap in the middle of the City defense and passed the ball to Jota, who cut the area with his back to goal and kicked Salah into the goal. He followed with a rocket to the left of the net (17).
Mahrez returned to danger with a powerful left-footed shot from the right, over the crossbar (22).
The pressure from the locals stabilized after the ball reached Grealish on the left and Álvarez scored (27).
Seconds into the second half, City doubled their lead after Álvarez made a fine pass from the right for Mahrez to pass De Bruyne in front of the goal (46).
City confirmed victory after Baker blocked Álvarez’s shot and dropped the ball in front of Gundogan, who followed it into the net (53).
Klopp made four changes and put on Bennones, Brazilian Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Greek defender Kostas Tsimikas in an attempt to regain the score (70).
But Grealish responded with the fourth goal, after good exchange with De Bruyne in the area before putting it in the net (74).