Player ratings as Man City pull off late comeback vs Liverpool | OneFootball

Manchester City pulled off a stunning late comeback to beat Liverpool 2-1 in a high-stakes Premier League clash at Anfield. 

Liverpool snapped a five-game winless league run with a statement victory against Newcastle United last weekend, overhauling an early deficit to win 4-1 at Anfield.

However, the Reds trailed fourth-placed Manchester United by five points ahead of the kick-off, as they sought revenge for a 3-0 defeat in November’s reverse fixture.

Man City desperately needed to complete their first league double over the Merseyside powerhouse in the 21st century to stay within striking distance of table-topping Arsenal.

Given the high-stakes nature of the contest, both teams chose a careful approach, though the Cityzens started off on the front foot, with Erling Braut Haaland wasting a glorious chance already in the second minute.

Little did anyone know it would be the best scoring opportunity of the first half, which saw Liverpool head into the half-time break without a shot on target.

Arne Slot’s half-time talk changed the tide, as the Reds started the second half as a different team, keeping Man City under relentless pressure.

Hugo Ekitike spurned two promising chances in the space of five minutes, but it seemed like it was only a matter of time before they would find the opening goal.

Still, they had to wait until the 74th minute to break the deadlock, with Dominik Szoboszlai scoring a headline-grabbing free-kick to put the defending champions in front.

Though it didn’t look like the visitors could come back, they found an equaliser, with Bernardo Silva turning home a teasing low cross from Haaland.

Guardiola’s side turned the game on its head in stoppage time, as Haaland converted a penalty to help Man City restore their deficit to Arsenal to six points.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1)

Alisson Becker (7/10) – The Brazilian goalkeeper emerged as Liverpool’s standout performer in the first half, making several crucial saves.

Milos Kerkez (6/10) – Despite another disjointed attacking performance, the under-fire left-back fared well against Antoine Semenyo.

Virgil van Dijk (7/10) – Got back on track after losing track of Haaland in that second minute, managing to keep the Norwegian quiet ever after.

Ibrahima Konate (6/10) – Failed to inspire confidence, but held up his end of the bargain. Used his physical strength to make light work of Omar Marmoush.

Dominik Szoboszlai (8/10) – Grew into the new role, showcasing defensive solidity and calmness in possession, albeit without taking much risk running forward. Slotted home a stunning free-kick!

Ryan Gravenberch (5/10)  – Up the creek without a paddle in the first half, the Dutchman was lucky to get away without a booking for several reckless tackles.

Alexis Mac Allister (7/10) – Far more comfortable on the ball than his colleague in the double pivot, the Argentine midfielder made a couple of defence-splitting passes.

Cody Gakpo (3/10) – Virtually invisible in the first half. Continued to struggle after the half-time interval.

Florian Wirtz (3/10) – Another game he would probably want to forget in a hurry.

Mohamed Salah (5/10) – Not even a shadow of the player who dominated the Premier League last season.

Hugo Ekitike (6/10)  – After a frustrating first 45 minutes, the Frenchman wasted two golden chances to open the scoring at the start of the second half.

Substitutions

Curtis Jones N/A

Federico Chiesa N/A

Manchester City (4-3-3)

Gianluigi Donnarumma (7/10) – Had some risky passes in the build-up, but escaped the punishment.

Rayan Ait Nouri (5/10) – Did well at the back, keeping Salah in check for most of the game. However, he was awful on the opposite side of the pitch.

Marc Guehi (6/10) – His lapse of concentration nearly helped Liverpool break the deadlock early on. It proved to be a wake-up call as he grew into the contest before narrowly escaping a red for a risky challenge on Salah.

Abdukodir Khusanov (8/10) – Despite recent criticism, the young gun held his ground against Ekitike and Wirtz in what was arguably his best performance of the season.

Matheus Nunes (6/10) – Heavily involved in Man City’s attacking moves, he combined well with his teammates but often struggled to find the final pass.

Bernardo Silva (8/10) – Enjoyed plenty of possession, keeping his side in firm control of midfield. Yet, his set-piece deliveries were poor and frequently well off the mark.

Rodri (6/10) – A lengthy spell on the sidelines took a toll on the Spaniard, who wasn’t up to the pace.

Nico O’Reilly (5/10) – Lacked composure in the crucial areas, often rushing his decisions and failing to make the most of promising positions.

Antoine Semenyo (4/10) – Erratic and wasteful in possession, he struggled to make an impact in the final third and often broke down promising attacks.

Omar Marmoush (3/10) – Failed to seize a rare chance to start, losing way too many balls. Squandered a clear-cut chance midway through the first half.

Erling Haaland (9/10) – Disappeared from the game after fluffing his lines in that fateful second minute. Completely cut off from the rest of the team in the second half before setting up Silva for the equaliser. Put away a crucial penalty to keep City in the title race.

Substitutions