Erling Haaland scored a stoppage-time penalty as Manchester Metropolis got here from behind late on to beat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield – and preserve the title race alive.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s sensational free-kick had seemed set to safe the victory for the reigning Premier League champions however Bernardo Silva compelled in an equaliser within the 84th minute earlier than Alisson introduced down Matheus Nunes to go away the gang shocked.
Haaland then tucked away the spot-kick however there was nonetheless time for drama at each ends of the pitch. Gianluigi Donnarumma saved brilliantly from Alexis Mac Allister earlier than Szoboszlai was despatched off amid VAR confusion as Rayan Cherki’s purpose was dominated out.
The three factors, secured in such dramatic style, transfer Metropolis again inside six factors of Arsenal on the high.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool, in the meantime, stay 4 factors behind fifth-placed Chelsea and in peril of lacking out on subsequent season’s Champions League.
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Bernardo Silva introduced Man Metropolis stage late within the recreation
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Erling Haaland transformed a stoppage-time penalty to win it for Man Metropolis
How Man Metropolis conjured comeback
It was a recreation that took time to ignite, Haaland having one of the best likelihood of the primary half simply moments into the match, just for Alisson to smother. Metropolis have been the higher aspect within the first half however Liverpool threw every thing at them in an astonishing second half.
Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike wasted good probabilities earlier than Florian Wirtz ought to have finished higher than strike Marc Guehi, whose each contact was booed by the Liverpool followers. However none of it appeared to matter when Szoboszlai’s free-kick rocketed into the web.
The Hungarian noticed off Arsenal with the same strike in entrance of the Kop however Metropolis conjured a comeback for the ages with substitute Cherki at its coronary heart. It was his cross that Haaland nodded into Silva’s path for the equaliser earlier than he despatched Nunes away to win the penalty.
Haaland’s first Anfield purpose proved the winner however solely earlier than Donnarumma’s heroics and a second of controversy when Cherki stroked residence with Alisson up the pitch. Szoboszlai pulled Haaland again outdoors the field, and the Metropolis striker returned the favour within the space.
Haaland’s foul meant, technically, the purpose couldn’t be given, however that required referee Craig Pawson to contemplate the sooner foul by Szoboszlai – and ship off the Liverpool participant for denying a goalscoring alternative. It left each groups unhappy with the decision.
“Just give the goal, don’t give a red card. Simple as that,” stated Haaland afterwards. “It’s the rules and how it is.” However it was a footnote, actually. The story of this extraordinary match is that Metropolis – by some means – retain their hopes of recapturing the Premier League title.
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Szoboszlai sees RED and Manchester Metropolis have purpose disallowed amid last-gasp VAR drama!
Silva: If we would misplaced title race was over
Man Metropolis captain Bernardo Silva talking to Sky Sports activities:
“The whole team knew that if we lost this game, probably the title race is over. They’re still in a much better position than us. That puts us a bit closer. We’re going to fight until the end. It’s six points, we’re happy, but we need to keep doing our job – which we have not lately.”
Guardiola: All we will do is breathe down Arsenal’s neck
When these feedback by his captain have been put to Guardiola within the press convention, the Metropolis boss quipped: “They didn’t tell me that [they thought it was over had they lost]. Maybe I am more optimistic than them. Watching Arsenal, are they going to lose more than three games? Maybe not, but in football you never know.”
Guardiola later stated: “I have a feeling that improving a little bit will not be enough to compete against Arsenal but still we have margin [to improve]. We have to [play them] at home and of course we have to beat them. And I’ve said, 13 games in the Premier League, from my point of view, from my little experience, is a lot of time, a lot.
“It is correct. Once you go into the final video games taking part in any group in a relegation battle, it is a correct recreation, soccer recreation. As a result of they stay to outlive and so they have lengthy weeks to arrange, [whereas] you come from FA Cup, you come from Carabao Cup, you come from the Champions League.
“That makes an influence in the title race, that’s why being nine, 10, 11 points is more difficult, that’s why all we can do is breathe down the neck of Arsenal, being there, and try if they sleep, if they make something [a mistake], use it.”
Slot’s frustration at Guehi not seeing crimson
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Arne Slot suggests Marc Guehi ought to have seen crimson for a pull on Mohamed Salah
There was an incident in the course of the second half when Guehi pulled Salah’s shirt when the Liverpool ahead was simply outdoors of the penalty field. The Metropolis defender acquired a yellow card for the foul however Slot felt Salah would have gone on to attain.
“If l had to talk about one moment, it would be when Salah was through on goal and Guehi had his shirt,” stated Slot. “That was definitely a goalscoring opportunity. Out of a hundred people, we could find 20 people from the PGMOL who would say it wasn’t a red card.”
Nightmare finale provides to Slot’s struggles
The primary phrases of the Liverpool boss within the press convention after Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester Metropolis have been that he was feeling “angry and frustrated” – and he went on to fixate on the choice to not ship off Guehi for a tug on Salah’s shirt.
That’s comprehensible. So close to and but to date. Liverpool have been closing in on a memorable victory that might have put them inside two factors of fourth. In the long run, it’s a crushing defeat that comes coupled with the suspension of Szoboszlai.
Sustaining any perspective within the circumstances shall be tough, however Liverpool’s second-half exhibiting did provide encouragement. They troubled Metropolis with their urgent and threatened to overwhelm them throughout lengthy spells of the second half at Anfield.
“The improvement we have made since three or four months ago was visible for everyone,” stated Slot. “Second half, our standards went up, in terms of intensity, we were pressing them all over the place and that is the biggest improvement we have made.
“That the entire is succesful towards one of many groups that’s possibly one of the best group in England in ball possession, to take action nicely off the ball is a giant enchancment. A unbelievable second half. I used to be anticipating greater than being one purpose up.”
Instead, it is a defeat and, as Slot conceded in his final thoughts before departing, that undermines any talk of progress at Liverpool. “The difficulty is you do not see this enchancment within the league desk and that’s the most necessary,” stated the Reds boss.
Liverpool go to Sunderland on Wednesday with their hosts having had an additional day of relaxation and with Slot looking for one more resolution at right-back the place he’s now onto his fifth alternative. A recreation that was almost a turning level finally ends up solely including to the stress.
