Liverpool 2-1 Manchester City (original) (raw)
Image source, AFP
Image caption,
Philippe Coutinho's winner was his fourth Premier League goal of the season
- Liverpool move up to fifth spot with win
- Reds unbeaten in the league in 2015
- City without a win at Anfield since May 2003
- Pellegrini's side remain five points behind Chelsea
Philippe Coutinho scored a stunning winner as Liverpool dented Manchester City's Premier League title defence with a narrow victory at Anfield.
Jordan Henderson's curling effort put the Reds ahead before Edin Dzeko finished off a slick move to equalise.
But Brazil midfielder Coutinho capped a fine display with the decisive goal when he struck from 25 yards.
The result leaves City five points behind Chelsea having played a game extra, while Liverpool move to fifth.
| MOTD2 analysis |
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| Danny Murphy: "Liverpool's 3-4-3 formation definitely suits Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho, but the way Manchester City were set up on Sunday allowed the pair to thrive." |
| Read more: How Man City let Liverpool duo shine |
Liverpool's 3-2 victory in this fixture last April was seen as a pivotal moment for the Reds in last season's title charge, although ultimately it was City that went on to win the Premier League a month later.
With current league leaders Chelsea in League Cup final action against Tottenham, City manager Manuel Pellegrini had underlined the importance of this match and the need for his side to "keep fighting" in the title race.
Media caption,
Liverpool 2-1 Man City: 'Incredible' Reds delight Rodgers
City made a two-point gain on Chelsea last weekend but they were unable to make up further ground on Jose Mourinho's side after Coutinho scored the winning goal against them at Anfield for the second consecutive season.
For Liverpool, it kept their unbeaten league record in 2015 and, having taken 26 points from a possible 30, momentum appears to be building in their bid to finish in one of the Champions League places.
Liverpool only arrived back at 04:30 GMT on Friday following their penalty shootout defeat by Besiktas in the Europa League last week, and despite the physical toils of their travels Rodgers felt his players would be "mentally ready", external to face City.
They showed few signs of tiredness, although it was Coutinho, rested for last week's trip to Istanbul, who was at the heart of Liverpool's attacking play.
| City's Anfield struggles |
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| Manchester City have not won on any of their last 13 visits to Anfield in all competitions. Liverpool's ground remains the only one in the Premier League where City have not won away since Sheikh Mansour's takeover in 2008. |
Coutinho's sharpness helped Liverpool take an 11th-minute lead when he stole the ball off Vincent Kompany, making his 200th league appearance for City, and Raheem Sterling slipped the ball out wide to Henderson.
Media caption,
Liverpool 2-1 Man City: Pellegrini says City's 'style' must return
The England midfielder, who wore the Liverpool captain's armband in the absence of the injured Steven Gerrard, cut inside onto his favoured right foot and curled a stunning shot past Joe Hart and into the top right corner of the net.
The goal brought greater urgency to City's play and they almost equalised when Sergio Aguero latched on to David Silva's through ball only for the Argentine forward's shot to rebound off the post.
City got themselves on level terms before the half-hour mark with a slick move that culminated in Aguero's clever pass into the area for Dzeko, and the Bosnia forward clinically dispatched a low shot past Simon Mignolet in the Liverpool goal.
Aguero headed over from a dangerous position shortly after half-time, while Liverpool's Adam Lallana had the ball in the net again when he glanced in a free-kick only for the officials to judge he did so from an offside position.
Coutinho always seemed Liverpool's most likely source of another goal and delivered the telling blow with a strike akin to the quality of the one he scored in their 2-0 win against Southampton last Sunday.
The playmaker jinked in from the left flank and curled a spectacular shot past Hart and into the top right corner of the net in front of the Kop.
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Jordan Henderson also scored his first league goal against Manchester City, for Sunderland in 2009
Image source, AFP
Image caption,
Vincent Kompany made his 200th Premier League appearance for Manchester City at Anfield
Image source, AFP
Image caption,
Edin Dzeko now has four goals in the Premier League for City this season
Image source, AFP
Image caption,
Philippe Coutinho scored the winning goal in Liverpool's 3-2 victory over City last season
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Brendan Rodgers has now won two and lost two of his four encounters with Manuel Pellegrini
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