"Boys against men" is how Gary Neville described the opening half of Liverpool and Manchester City - and he wasn't wrong.
In the opening quarter of play, Arne Slot's men took full advantage of an uncharacteristically Manchester City side, launching chance after chance at a goal Ederson had been dropped from guarding just hours earlier.
After ten minutes of non-stop pressure, it was Cody Gakpo who finished off a sensational Mo Salah cross to put Liverpool ahead. Lucky that their opposition had only converted one of their abundance of chances, Manchester City slowly settled the pace of play and began to show glimpses of their potential as the half neared its end.
Those glimpses of promise would prove to be as good as it would get for Manchester City who looked bereft of ideas in front of an utterly dominant second-half Liverpool, with Mo Salah's 78th-minute penalty putting the icing on the cake in Anfield.
Caoímhín Kelleher did not have much to do, but when he had to make a crucial intervention, he was not found wanting. A sloppy mistake from Virgin Van Dijk in the 83rd minute gifted Kevin De Bruyne the ball, with only Caoimhin Kelleher standing between him and the open net.
Fortunately for what would've been an embarrassed Van Dijk, the Irishman once again proved Liverpool's hero, catching the ball between his legs and denying De Bruyne and Manchester City an otherwise sure-fire route back into the game.
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Gary Neville hails Kelleher save
Fearing that in the midst of a historic win in Anfield, Kelleher's outstanding contribution could go unnoticed, Manchester United legend Gary Neville who was on co-commentary with Sky Sports paid tribute to the Corkonian's efforts.
That shouldn't go unnoticed at the end of the game, that Kelleher save.
He knows how close, I'm sure that'll be doubled up at the end in the changing room. He's just saved his captain some real embarrassment and his club a nervous last 10 minutes.
Neville's comments only echoed the sentiments of the Kop, who were serenading Caoimhin Kelleher with chants of 'Ireland's number one' after the Corkonian once again came to Liverpool's rescue.
Meanwhile chants burst from the Kop, "Ireland's #1'
'Ireland's Number 1' is the chant from the Kop in recognition of another superb stop from Caoimhin Kelleher.
— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) December 1, 2024
"Ireland's number one" chant from the Kop after Kelleher stopped De Bruyne's nutmeg attempt
(via @TheRedmenTV)pic.twitter.com/4kzHUb1aTv— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) December 1, 2024
Sunday's save was just the latest heroics from Caoimhin Kelleher, who earned his fair share of credit on Wednesday night when he denied Kylian Mbappe from the spot to prevent Real Madrid getting a foothold in a game Arne Slot's men would go on to win 2-0.
He's kept clean sheets against the European champions and the Premier League champions this week.
Liverpool now sit eleven points ahead of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, and are the undeniable favourites to claim England's most esteemed prize after today's result.
