“Money can’t buy that,” says Brendan Rodgers, in reference to the phenomenal Liverpool support and the many tributes undertaken to commemorate the Hillsborough disaster.
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel, right, scores against Manchester City.
13 Apr 2014
2:20PM
Coutinho breaks through, but he drags the ball wide from just outside the box.
The Brazilian had options on both sides there, so his teammates won’t be pleased with his decision to go it alone.
13 Apr 2014
2:22PM
Good break from City on the counter, as Navas crosses to Silva, who heads it wide.
The ref gives a corner for some reason, and a header is cleared off the line amid the ensuing chaos.
City have come into this game more in recent minutes.
13 Apr 2014
2:25PM
HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 2-0 MAN CITY
13 Apr 2014
2:32PM
So half-time and Liverpool hold a commanding lead in a game that has been played at a frantic pace.
City have struggled to cope with the pace and skill of Liverpool’s counter-attack, and consequently, Liverpool invariably look a threat when they go forward.
Nevertheless, City gradually came into the game more as the half developed, enjoying greater possession and territory.
Pellegrini’s side were also unfortunate to be denied a penalty, when Sakho committed a rash tackle on Dzeko in the box.
As it happened: Liverpool v Manchester City, Premier League
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Liverpool 3-2 Manchester City
Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog. The teams news is below.
Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Sakho, Flanagan, Henderson, Gerrard, Coutinho, Sterling, Suarez, Sturridge. Subs: Brad Jones, Toure, Agger, Aspas, Moses, Lucas, Allen.
Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy, Toure, Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Silva, Nasri, Dzeko. Subs: Lescott, Milner, Negredo, Kolarov, Javi Garcia, Aguero, Pantilimon.
There seems to be some doubt over the fitness of Vincent Kompany, despite the Belgian defender being named in the starting line-up.
“We’ll see how he is the warm-up,” Pellegrini tells Sky Sports.
A fan arrives wearing a ’96′ shirt in memory of the Hillsborough disaster.
In case there was any doubt about Yaya Toure’s phenomenal talent…
h/t @PeterMcNamara_
Ahead of the game, here’s some reading material for you:
“Money can’t buy that,” says Brendan Rodgers, in reference to the phenomenal Liverpool support and the many tributes undertaken to commemorate the Hillsborough disaster.
We’re underway…
Kompany is playing by the way.
You’d wonder was there a bit of mind games going on with talk of him being a major doubt.
The Liverpool team pay their respects to Hillsborough victims prior to kick-off.
Liverpool have started this game in a lively, energetic fashion, unsurprisingly, given the incredible atmosphere.
Suarez is booked for flying into a tackle.
GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL!
Liverpool 1-0 Man City: Great work from Suarez who plays through Sterling, and the youngster shows good composure to finish well past Hart (5 mins).
Great start for Liverpool!
City have started this game in a negative, slovenly and conspicuously defensive fashion.
Pellegrini’s side may have to re-think that strategy now.
Here’s a look at that Sterling goal.
http://vine.co/v/MJeBY3nWd6d
h/t @BetLiverpool
A rare City attack ends with Yaya Toure curling the ball well over.
That epitomises their frustration right now.
Sturridge misses a gilt-edged opportunity. The striker side-foots the ball wide, after Sterling finds him with an inch-perfect cross.
City are struggling to cope with the speed of the Liverpool attack right now.
Yaya Toure looks like he’s going to have to come off.
He’s limping heavily right now.
Toure is replaced by Javi Garcia.
That’s a big blow for City both in this game and in the title race in general.
Garcia announces himself on the scene with a late tackle.
The player is consequently booked immediately after coming on.
GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL!
Liverpool 2-0 Man City: Skrtel heads home from a corner to score his seventh league goal of the season (25 mins).
Liverpool well in control now with just under half an hour played.
Liverpool go close again, as Suarez plays it through to Sturridge, whose attempt is cut out by the despairing defender’s lunge.
City still can’t cope with the pace of Liverpool’s counter-attack.
Here’s the vine for Skrtel’s goal.
http://vine.co/v/MJeK5aaQF93
h/t @NowFootball
Liverpool were fortunate there.
Sakho commits a rash challenge on Dzeko in the box, completely missing the ball, but the referee ignores calls for the penalty.
Free kick on the edge of the box, but David Silva drives it directly into the wall.
Surprisingly for them, City have offered very little in attack so far.
Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel, right, scores against Manchester City.
Coutinho breaks through, but he drags the ball wide from just outside the box.
The Brazilian had options on both sides there, so his teammates won’t be pleased with his decision to go it alone.
Good break from City on the counter, as Navas crosses to Silva, who heads it wide.
The ref gives a corner for some reason, and a header is cleared off the line amid the ensuing chaos.
City have come into this game more in recent minutes.
HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 2-0 MAN CITY
So half-time and Liverpool hold a commanding lead in a game that has been played at a frantic pace.
City have struggled to cope with the pace and skill of Liverpool’s counter-attack, and consequently, Liverpool invariably look a threat when they go forward.
Nevertheless, City gradually came into the game more as the half developed, enjoying greater possession and territory.
Pellegrini’s side were also unfortunate to be denied a penalty, when Sakho committed a rash tackle on Dzeko in the box.
More fantastic tributes from earlier.
The second half has begun…
Sterling makes his first bad decision today.
After skipping past a few City defenders, he drags his shot from distance well wide.
Navas is replaced by Milner just four minutes after half-time.
The intention is obviously to give City more steel in midfield.
Skrtel has just made an inch-perfect tackle to prevent Dzeko from getting a clear run through on goal.
The Slovak defender has been superb today.
Suarez is lucky there.
Having already been booked, the striker makes an obvious dive, but the referee neglects to penalise him as a result.
GOAL FOR MAN CITY!
Man City 1-2 Liverpool: Great interplay from City on the edge of the box, as the ball is crossed into Silva, who slots home (56 mins).
It’s probably deserved, as City have been the better side in this second half.
Agree?
GOAL FOR MAN CITY!
Man City 2-2 Liverpool: Nasri finds Silva, and his cross-cum-shot deflects in off Glen Johnson (62 mins).
Great character from City to get back in this game.
Suarez goes down again in the box but the referee waves play on.
The Uruguayan went down theatrically but Kompany did put his hands on him, so it could have been given.
Meanwhile, Joe Allen has replaced Sturridge to give Liverpool more defensive balance.
Sergio Aguero replaces Dzeko.
City previously went close again, after a sloppy pass, allowed Dzeko to test Mignolet with a powerful strike.
Here are the two City goals:
http://vine.co/v/MJeH1pAmuh9
http://vine.co/v/MJedgPnZZ0l
h/t @FootyEditsHD_
20 minutes for either side to win this game.
City have the momentum and thus look the more likely, but the hosts still look dangerous on the counter-attack.
Aguero beats Skrtel and crosses to Silva.
However, the Spanish international can’t quite properly connect with the ball, and his sliding attempt goes wide.
GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL!
Liverpool 3-2 Man City: Incredible stuff! Kompany scuffs a clearance and Coutinho finishes beautifully into the corner of the net (77 mins).
The City players look gutted — that’s a big psychological blow for them.
Here’s that Coutinho goal:
http://vine.co/v/MJethwDAzuL
Demichelis wins the header from a City corner, but his attempt is comfortably saved by Mignolet.
Less than five minutes of normal time remain, and City are beginning to play with an air of desperation.
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini looks dejected in the dugout.
Victor Moses replaces Coutinho.
We’re approaching stoppage time now.
Mignolet comfortably collects a corner played into the box.
There will be five minutes of stoppage time.
RED CARD FOR JORDAN HENDERSON!
Jordan Henderson rightly receives the first red card of his career.
He lunges in on Nasri, going way over the top and receives his marching orders as a result.
Controversial. Replays show there was a clear handball from Skrtel as an innocuous ball was played into the box.
Meanwhile, Lucas has replaced Sterling.
FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 3-2 MAN CITY
Right, that’s all from me, but join us for the Chelsea liveblog shortly.
Thanks for reading and commenting, and we’ll have more reaction to follow.
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