After selling their prized asset perhaps six months too early, Liverpool fans have been crying out for their side to silence the doubters and they did it today, even if it was in the most Liverpool way imaginable.
The Reds boss Jurgen Klopp suggested before the game that "sometimes you get an opportunity to put things right." Referring of course to Manchester City's 5-0 mauling of Liverpool back in September in the reverse fixture.
Before today City had only lost one game all season, an away fixture to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League back in December, and had their eyes on equally Arsenal's famous "invincibles" title winning season. The Anfield men avenged their early season embarrassment today by ensuring that although City may still win the league, they won't be doing it without a blemish.
Liverpool started off the day with the double blow of Virgil Van Dijk being ruled out of today's game and the news that RB Leipzig will not let Naby Keita complete his Anfield switch early, but their dominating performance against the run away league leaders will have eased any Liverpool's fans pain today.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain went a long way to repaying his £35 million summer transfer free by opening the scoring with a lovely strike from outside the box. Liverpool slipped momentarily back into their old defensive frailties when Loris Karius, given the nod today over Simon Mignolet by Klopp, was beaten far too easily at his near post by Leroy Sane's powerful strike.
The sides went in 1-1 at the break and Manchester City came dangerously close to going 2-1 up just after half time with defender Nicolás Otamendi hitting the bar, but it was Liverpool who pulled away with an excellent attacking display. Their lone remaining Brazilian, Roberto Firmino put them back in front with a deft chip over the head of Ederson with Sadio Mané hammering home for 3 and Mo Salah got his 24th of the season, making it 4-1 from a long way out capitalising on the Manchester City goalkeeper being off his line.
Liverpool, as they've done so many times this season, did their best to throw away all their hard work by giving two late goals away, Bernardo Silva pulled one back from nothing on 84 minutes and İlkay Gündoğan made sure every Liverpool fans hearts were pounding for the full four added minutes by making it 4-3.
Despite a lazy foul from James Milner is stoppage time which gave City the opportunity to stage a famous comeback, it wasn't to be and Jurgen Klopp's men got their revenge and maybe even did the whole Premier League a favour by showing that Pep Guardiola's men are in fact human.
The internet, of course, acted accordingly to City finally losing.
Wow. What a brilliant game. Liverpool too good going forward for City today. #LIVMCI
— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) January 14, 2018
The real Fab Four. #LFC pic.twitter.com/xLTbpIDpDW
— LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) January 14, 2018
Liverpool Football Club: Been fucking with my emotions for 29 years but my God, do I love ‘em. pic.twitter.com/2tKu0Hk7Th
— Sachin Nakrani (@SachinNakrani) January 14, 2018
Great 2 c a team like Liverpool, infused by the positivity of a leader like Klopp, not shrinking in front of City but having courage to play
— Oliver Holt (@OllieHolt22) January 14, 2018
WHAT. A. GAME!! When Liverpool play with that much passion and intensity, there’s no better team to watch. Classic #LFC though, didn’t make it easy for themselves, but ultimately deserved the victory and deserved to be the first to beat Man City in the league this season #LIVMCI
— Jules Breach (@julesbreach) January 14, 2018
Liverpool you are giving me tingles! @LFC #LFC
— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) January 14, 2018
Oxlade-Chamberlain 3 goals for Liverpool so far.
Had 3 goals for Arsenal last 71 games....— Jan Aage Fjørtoft 🏳️🌈 🇳🇴 💛💙 (@JanAageFjortoft) January 14, 2018
Credit where credit is due class match well done #LFC must admit hard not to love #Klopp as well #Character 🤓😂😂👍 #LFCMCFC
— Gary Spike OSullivan (@spike_osullivan) January 14, 2018
Chamberlain has scored as many goals in his last 20 Premier League games for Liverpool as he did in his last 71 for Arsenal. Talk about improvement.
— Leanne Prescott (@_lfcleanne) January 14, 2018
Defences win leagues fact. Liverpool arsenal shambles at back, Man Utd dominated for years because of there back four. Now look at there's. Are teams focusing too much on getting best attacking players? Or are the attacking players just getting better?
— Jamie Ohara (@Mrjamieohara1) January 14, 2018
Never in doubt 😳🙈😳
4-3... “and we got SALAH...” 🎶💪🏻😂#LIVMCI #LFC #YNWA #AWESOME pic.twitter.com/P7J52BldW1— Sam Quek (@SamanthaQuek) January 14, 2018
Great game offensively. Defensively a lot to be desired. And the keepers will, don’t even go there. 🙈😂
— Joey Barton (@Joey7Barton) January 14, 2018
That augurs so well for the Champions League. Liverpool looked so solid and compact in their 451 and pressed at the right times. The best teams will step to LFC and they’re capable of doing that to anyone
— John O'Sullivan (@NotoriousJOS) January 14, 2018
Fantastic game and big win for Liverpool. City? If they lose every PL game between now and beginning of March, worst they could be is second.
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) January 14, 2018
