Clive Thabo Dube
Sports Reporter
Sunday night Liverpool FC looked confident as they got back into winning ways with a narrow win over arch rivals Manchester City.
The win came from a telepathic communication that has developed in the past seasons between the Reds goal minder Allison Becker and the Egyptian King Mohamed Salah.
Camera repeats have shown that before the Brazilian goalkeeper could catch a highball circling his 18 area, Mo Salah was already making a counter run. Allison unleashed a long ball that eluded the Citizen’s defense and the Egyptian had an easy task of rounding off Joao Cancelo, outpace him and lob the ball over Man City goalkeeper who had been drawn off his line.
Salah’s goal came in the 79th minute.
Liverpool kept the tempo after thrashing Rangers FC 7-1 in a UEFA Championship League match a few days earlier.
The fierce clash between the two teams lived to the billing with Citizens expected to trounce the Reds.
Liverpool had been written off by pundits, and in the Sunday Match Man City’s new signing Erling Haaland was expected to spearhead the demise of Anfield.
However,Liverpool had the last laugh as Haaland’s scoring streak came to a halt at the fortified Anfield.When Salah dribbled his way past Cancelo, he outpaced him, the midfielder was left wondering where the Egyptian King had disappeared to as Salah raced towards the City goal and lobbed the ball over the drawn keeper.
Salah’s solitary goal put an end City’s unbeaten run.The clash between two worlds greatest managers Jurgen klopp and Pep Gaurdiola has seen Klopp outsmarting the tiki taka inventor by defeating Guardiola for more than 10 times they have squared off.
The blistering encounter between the two giants saw Phil Foden’s goal disallowed after the Video Assistance Referee (VAR) picked a foul from Halaand. The Reds manager was upset that Bernado Silva went unpunished after fouling Mo Salah on the touchline, then the official Anthony Taylor showed Klopp the exit tunnel.
Fans erupted as Guardiola was attacked by coins from the start of the second half. In the additional minutes Halaand’s header was easily saved by Allison. Liverpool FC has since condoned the behavior of their fans on the attack of City manager.
“This is totally unacceptable behavior and not the standards of behavior we expect at Anfield. This incident will be fully investigated using CCTV and those found guilty will be punished, including a lifetime ban from Anfield Stadium and a possible football banning order.” Reads part of the statement.
Liverpool are now positioned 8th with 13 points and Manchester City are still second with 23 points. The Reds face the hammers West Ham, on Wednesday 19th at Anfield while Manchester City’s visit to the Emirates Stadium to face the log leaders Arsenal has been postponed.