Manchester City pulled off a great game with a 4-1 win over Liverpool and continues to close the gap on the momentary leader of the Premier League, Arsenal.
With the offensive influence of the Argentine Julian Alvarezthe creativity of Kevin de Bruynethe insistence of Jack Grealish and the choral game of the rest of the players of the Manchester CityPep Guardiola’s team thrashed 4-1 al Liverpool and sent a message to Arsenal: the Premier League is more alive than ever.
Los ‘citizens’ resolved a complicated encounter in style, with the ‘oles’ of their fans in the last minutes, in which they even dared to chant a “champions, champions” despite still being five points below the Arsenalwhich will shortly visit the Ettihad Stadium.
The pre-duel script indicated that the City he had the complicated mission of overcoming a miura injured by its erratic course that, up to now, has been a real roller coaster. The recovery phases of men led by Jürgen Klopp They have always been interrupted by unnecessary stumbling blocks, like the one who lived last day in front of the Bournemouth .
That result ended a streak of Liverpool five consecutive games without defeat. It was a step backwards in the only goal he has left of the course: finish in positions of Champions League. Even so, despite their almost weekly ups and downs, the ‘Reds’ showed up at the Ettihad Stadium wanting to claim the respect that one of the so-called teams of the ‘Big Six’.
His Erling Haaland
A Pep Guardiola He had to deal with that bull without his goal man, Erling Haaland, affected by a groin injury that has already prevented him from playing his international matches with Norway this week. He couldn’t count on Phil Fodenwho due to appendicitis for which he had to undergo surgery has seen his upward trajectory of the last month and a half cut short.
Therefore, to Julian Alvarez he had to cover the absence of Haaland. The task of replacing the voracious Scandinavian striker is a very difficult one. Any striker in the world would suffer hateful comparisons, but the Argentine is used to it and always complies. And, before him Liverpoolit did not disappoint. He scored a goal, the tie (1-1) and assisted Kevin De Bruyne in the second (2-1). no one remembered Haaland.
But before the apparitions of the ‘Spider’, City would suffer a shock despite almost completely dominating the game. With Rodri Hernandez ahead of the defense and with Ilkay Gündogan and Kevin de Bruyneformed a perfect triangle that constantly supplied Riyad Mahrez, Julián Álvarez and Jack Grealishespecially combative even in defensive tasks, in which it showed an immense withdrawal capacity.
With an immense possession, the City had three approaches before the unforeseen event that caused Mohamed Salah. Gündogan y Rodri they tried it with two shots that he stopped without problems Alisson and Mahrez he brushed the goal with a free kick. However, that joy came crashing down when Salahin a perfect counterattack, opened the scoring as the game approached the twentieth minute.
Brilliant comeback
The Egyptian’s blow did not affect the Citywhich followed at its pace, like a steamroller to soon find a prize that it got Julian Alvarez after a precious collective move that started De Bruynecontinued Mahrezprolonged Gundogan And what did he do? Grealish with an assist for the Argentine striker.
THE SPIDER SAID HERE I AM AND PUT THE TIE! Julián Álvarez appeared through the center and pushed Grealish’s pass to make it 1-1 for City in the #PREMIERxESPN.
📺 Look at the #PremierLeague by #ESPNenStarPlus pic.twitter.com/ANiAhqkxA8
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) April 1, 2023
With the tie in their pocket, Guardiola’s team prepared to deal the final blows after the break. The ‘citizens’ they charged out of the locker room and in just a minute they found their way to victory. And, again, with prominence for Julian Alvarezwhich left the second on a tray for De Bruyne.
But the influence of the world champion did not end there, because just a while later, he caused the third. Inside the area he made a hole, he got a shot that he touched providentially Trent Alexander-Arnold and the rebound ended up in the boots of Gundoganwho only had to aim easily to definitively resolve the match.
He 3-1 It was already too heavy a slab for Liverpool. Although he tried to get close on the scoreboard, he was unable. He City It was released and withstood the simultaneous entry of four fresh players from the box without any problem ‘red’ (Konstantinos Tsimikas, Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Darwin Núñez).
With the new ammunition for the last stretch, Liverpool continued in nowhere and even received the fourth, the work of Grealishwhich took home a well-deserved award after teaming up with DeBruyne.
The end of the City he scored a goal after grappling in the mud for most of the duel. It was the icing on the cake to an excellent meeting of the Citywho for the first time in the course added four victories in a row in the Premier and reaches the peak of the season in top form. smile the ‘citizens’he trembles Arsenal.
FULL-TIME | It’s good to be back! 🙌
🔵 4-1 🔴 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/L742pgPegf
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 1, 2023
