The title race is alive and kicking, and that’s all because of last night’s match. It took a tremendous performance from the under-fire Manchester City team, which played a high tempo game, to beat the high-flying Liverpool at the Etihad and reduce the deficit at the top of the Premier League table.
Pep Guardiola’s team had gone ahead just five minutes before half time through Sergio Aguero, but Firmino equalized after 64 minutes. Leroy Sane, who was not having a decent game, then came up with the deciding blow from the left side in the 72nd minute.
Here are the three reasons why City were able to come back into the title race with an important win.
#1. Aguero proves his worth as a big game player
Sergio Aguero
Though both teams had some world class players, the match could easily be labelled as Aguero vs Salah, and it was Aguero who came out with flying colors. He held possession in the opposition half, linked up well with both Sterling and Sane, and scored the crucial first half goal to give City the momentum.
Virgil Van Dijk and Co had a tough time dealing with the constant runs from the South American, and there was extra energy seen in the City front line today. Salah was the leading goal scorer in the league coming into the match, but Aguero showed the experience of playing in 8 league campaigns and the fortitude necessary for the bigger games.
The bigger games are not just about skills or form; they are also about temperament and handling of pressure, which Aguero did pretty well.
Liverpool’s constant giving away of the ball also helped the City midfield feed Aguero with dangerous passes.
#2. Goal line technology comes to City’s aid
The calls for technology to be introduced into the game have been heard since a long time. And there was no better time than a crucial match like this where it could have proved its worth.
The goal decision system came to Manchester City’s rescue in the 19th minute when the ball appeared to have crossed the line after John Stones’ mistake. The ball clearly looked over the line through naked eyes. But technology showed that only 99.99% of the ball had cleared the line, which technically is not a goal.
With that goal going in, it might have been Liverpool dictating the game, as the first goal was very crucial in this nervy encounter. We can’t be sure about the other managers, but Guardiola certainly doesn’t have a reason to not vouch for technology anymore.
#3. Sane’s moment of brilliance
For much of the match Sane looked like the most disappointing City player on the field, but he showed his worth with a neatly taken goal in the 72nd minute of the game. The timing of the goal was important as Liverpool had no time to make any further changes or alter their playing style.
Sane was guilty of misplacing a few passes for Aguero and Raheem Sterling, some of which looked pretty routine for a player of his class. But the goal showed exactly what he is capable of in crucial moments of the game.
Even Trent Alexander-Arnold, who himself is known for his pace, found it difficult to keep Sane quiet. Mahrez had been taking up Sane’s place in many previous matches, but it looks like Sane could now be the trusted soldier in City’s defence of their title.
