Foot: Manchester City drops Liverpool in the English Championship
İlkay Gündoğan celebrates his first goal against Liverpool with his Manchester City team-mates.
Pool via REUTERS - JON SUPER
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
4 min
Manchester City, first in the Premier League, increased their lead over defending champion Liverpool on February 7, 2021. The Citizens won 4-1 on the Reds' field during the 23rd day of the Premier League.
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Did we witness a handover of power in the English Football Championship (Premier League) on February 7, 2021?
After only 23 days in the Premier League, it is obviously much too early to announce the coronation of Manchester City, current leader in the Premier League table.
By contrast, it now seems almost certain that defending champion Liverpool will not retain their crown.
The champions have indeed cracked against those who had preceded them in 2018 and 2019, this February 7, 2021.
A penalty missed by Manchester City
At the start of the game, Manchester City are very well established, well grouped together and dominant in the midfield.
His pressing stifles the offensive tendencies of the Reds unable to give speed to their game.
It was not until the 24th minute that the premises were dangerous when striker Sadio Mané headed a cross from right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
It is then the center forward Roberto Firmino who threatens Ederson with a good half-volley but the Citizens' goalkeeper slams the ball for a corner (29th).
Sadio Mané will then try his luck again with a header (45th).
In vain.
It is Manchester City who actually get the clearest opportunity in this first half.
In the 36th minute, his left winger Raheem Sterling was indeed unbalanced in the area by Fabinho.
But the midfielder İlkay Gündoğan spoils this penalty by shooting well above the frame (37th).
His trainer Pep Guardiola is enraged.
Gündoğan makes up for it
But Gündoğan makes up for it just after the break.
In the 49th minute, Sterling entered the opponent's area again.
He serves forward Phil Foden whose shot is blocked by goalkeeper Alisson Becker towards Gündoğan.
The latter concludes point blank: 0-1.
Liverpool are however recovering in the direction of travel, a quarter of an hour later.
In the 63rd minute, Ruben Dias badly intercepts a ball and sees winger Mohamed Salah pass in front of him.
The defender grabs the Egyptian in the box, which is done justice: 1-1.
Alisson's monumental mistakes
Then happens the unimaginable: Alisson, considered to be one of the best doormen in the world, connects two errors as identical as they are incredible.
Two completely failed raises that plague his.
In the 73rd minute, the Brazilian indeed clears towards Foden who infiltrates and passes back towards Gündoğan: 1-2.
Shocked, Alisson gives the cover by giving almost the ball in the middle of Citizens Bernardo Silva who did not ask for so much.
The latter drops the ball on Sterling's head: 1-3, 76th.
Hagard, the rampart of the Reds is not at the end of its troubles.
In the process, Foden transplanted in the axis, gets back on his left foot and strikes in force: 1-4, 82nd.
Final score.
Manchester City are now 10 points ahead of Liverpool in the Premier League standings.
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