Manchester City-Liverpool FC: Match Report

Liverpool maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a come from behind win at the City of Manchester stadium on Sunday afternoon. Liverpool headed into the match as the team having conceded the least goals, but were facing a Man City attack that had scored more than any other club. There were fears that this game could have degenerated into a dour 0-0, like last terms corresponding fixture, as both teams strengths cancelled each other out. 

Raf Benitez made a surprising change, dropping Robbie Keane, who scored his first for the club in the midweek Champions League game, and who has scored against Manchester City for each of his previous clubs excepting Inter, for Javier Mascherano. Mascherano lined up alongside Xabi Alonso in central midfield, with Gerrard pushing up to play just behind Fernando Torres.

Pepe Reina lined up in goal, with Alvaro Arbeloa playing at right back, whilst Fabio Aurelio continued to keep Andrea Dossena out of the left back position. Rafa continued to pick Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel as his first choice defensive pairing with Dirk Kuyt and Albert Riera, playing against his old club, started on the wings.

Liverpool started the brighter of the two teams, Riera in particular causing problems down the left, before he had a shot from a tight angle saved by Hart. The first chance of real note however, fell to Dirk Kuyt in the seventeenth minute. It was good work from Riera again, as he weaved his way into the box, before directing a low cross to Kuyt, who blasted his left foot shot well over from all of six yards.

Liverpool were starting too look a bit shaky defensively, and Manchester City took full advantage in just two minutes later. Shaun Wright Phillips stole the ball from Aurelio, before centering for both Jo and Robinho, before the ball eventually fell to Arbeloa, who failed to clear, and Stephen Ireland took full advantage, smashing the ball into the roof of the net, giving Pepe Reina no chance.

Xabi Alonso had a long range shot, before Riera played in an inviting cross that was just out of the reach of the stretching Kuyt. However Riera then fouled Wright Phillips, and from the resulting free kick, Garrido curled in a beautiful left footed shot to make it 2-0 at halftime.

Liverpool started the second half well, Kuyt going down in the box, but no penalty was given. Mascherano then had a long range shot on 50 minutes that flashed well wide. Liverpool's persistence soon paid off, however.

Robinho failed to follow Abeloa's 55th minute run into the box, giving him plenty of time and space to cross low for Fernando Torres to slide in and score Liverpool's No. 1,000 Premier League goal. Manchester City should have sealed the game ten minutes later, as an excellent run by Wright-Phillips resulted in a great ball for Robinho, who failed to convert a gilt edged chance from two yards.

Perhaps the most controversial moment soon followed, as Pablo Zabaletta was shown a straight red for a studs up challenge on Xabi Alonso. Fernandes came on for Jo, as City attempted to hold onto their lead, whilst Rafa brought on both Keane and Dossena for Mascherano and Aurelio.

Inspired management it may have been, as Dossena's first touch resulted in a corner that Gerrard swung in from the left. Torres managed to lose his marker and head home his second for the game, and his No. 29 in the Premier League, breaking Patrik Berger's record as the top scoring foreign player.

The game was now there to be won for Liverpool, and it should have been in the eighty-second minute, but Torres uncharacteristically blasted over from Robbie Keane's cross, a miss on par with Robinho's earlier chance. Benayoun replaced Riera, before Skrtel's knee appeared to buckle beneath him and he had to be stretchered off.

Both teams would now finish with 10 men, and due to the delay caused by Skrtel's injury, six minutes of extra time were given. Liverpool only needed two though, as Benayoun centred for Torres, who's shot was deflected, and fell nicely for Kuyt to smash home his first Premier League goal in almost a year.