45′+1
2:17 p.m
End of 1st half
45′+1
2:17 p.m
On the other hand, Ederson saves! A sharp cross rushes straight through to the second post, where Szoboszlai stands and holds out his foot from an acute angle and a short distance. Ederson reacts brilliantly.
45′
2:16 p.m
Official added time (minutes): 1
44′
2:16 p.m
Alisson scratches the ball out of the corner! Liverpool’s front rows are too often outplayed, which is a strong play for the Citizens – but it’s also too easy. Foden is the last stop of the good attack, he moves inside and shoots flat to the near corner from around 18 meters. Alisson dives and steers the ball just around the post.
42′
14:13
The Guardiola team can counter directly, Doku drives the ball forward in the middle. On the left he can play to Haaland, on the right to Álvarez; he chooses the latter. But the passing is not good – also thanks to Liverpool’s strong positional play.
42′
14:12
Mac Allister’s shot from distance is blocked and a cross from the right goes just over Diogo Jota’s head.
40′
14:11
Liverpool counterattack via Salah on the right. Darwin Núñez demands the ball, but is clearly in an offside position.
38′
2:09 p.m
City would like to regain some control of the game and can do this through longer and controlled ball relays.
35′
2:06 p.m
But Liverpool is currently having a stronger phase again. Akanji’s bad pass is picked up by Szoboszlai, the Hungarian drives the ball forward and plays half-left into Darwin’s path. He shoots from the turn and a sharp angle against the side netting.
34′
2:05 p.m
Ederson punches a corner from the right side of the penalty area.
33′
2:04 p.m
Darwin Núñez is too hesitant in a promising counterattack situation. Finally he plays out to Salah on the right, who gets tangled up in the dribble.
32′
2:04 p.m
Doku is playing a very strong game so far. He now pulls inwards from the left and takes the shot, the shot deflects and flies clear out of bounds.
31′
2:03 p.m
The bottom line is that the City leadership is deserved. Although there was no goal threat for a long time, Manchester clearly had more of the game. And with Haaland in the Skyblues’ attack, the opposing team obviously can’t allow too much.
29′
2:01 p.m
Haaland scored his 50 goals in the English top flight in just 48 games – faster than any player before him. Another record in Haaland’s incredible career.
27′
13:57
Tooor for Manchester City, 1-0 by Erling Haaland
Then the time has come, Haaland sets the course for a home win with his 50th Premier League goal! For this goal he can also thank Aké to a large extent, who worked brilliantly. On the left, the Dutchman dribbles past two Reds and then finds Haaland with a deep pass, who is waiting for the pass on the edge of the penalty area. The former Dortmund player runs towards Alisson and confidently sinks the low shot to the right.
25′
13:56
That is too complicated! Against a slightly advanced Reds, Man City has some space in the person of Doku on the left flank. He pushes across the edge of the penalty area to Rodri, who passes it on again to Álvarez. Finally the Reds stop it, at some point Manchester has to finish.
24′
1:55 p.m
Liverpool’s relief attacks are usually a short-term phenomenon, overall the home Skyblues have more control of the game and usually let the ball run. In the final third, however, things must become even more dangerous.
22′
13:53
Doku obviously wants to change that and moves past Alexander-Arnold to the baseline with his speed. Alisson intercepts the sharp cross pass just before the goal with one hand, Haaland doesn’t get to the ball in time.
21′
13:52
Overall, City is now doing better again and Liverpool can restrict themselves more to their own box. But the best opportunities so far have come from Liverpool mistakes in building up the game, and their own offense has to become even more dangerous.
19′
13:51
Jones and Alisson at great risk! After the short Liverpool interlude, City wants to quickly take control again. An own attack is once again too harmless, but Liverpool almost gives the gift again: Jones plays near their own baseline across to Alisson, who is able to shovel the ball away at the last moment in front of Haaland, who is charging laterally. A game with fire from Klopp’s team in the build-up game!
17′
13:49
Darwin Núñez is in a suspicious offside position during the next LFC attack, but he stumbles upon Szoboszlai’s pass anyway. The striker could have run towards Ederson on the left.
16′
13:48
Ederson makes a strong save! Liverpool’s first, more dangerous advance is quite something. Matip dribbles through the middle unmolested and passes it to Salah. The Egyptian’s flank flies precisely onto Núñez’s skull. The striker’s header could have been placed better in the far corner, but Ederson’s reflex is still good.
15′
1:45 p.m
It’s a bit convenient that the Reds once again have a longer ball relay and can thus provide some relief.
14′
1:45 p.m
Now Matip stumbles on the ball while building up the game, Szoboszlai reacts quickly and is able to prevent an immediate advance with a good defensive run. Finally, Doku’s cross lands on Tsimikas’ head. But: It was the second major mistake in Liverpool’s build-up to the game.
11′
13:43
Alisson makes the ball sharp with a mistake! As he builds up the game, he plays the ball right into the feet of Foden, who is standing at the right corner of the penalty area. Van Dijk quickly moves in front of the City player and is able to prevent an immediate finish, but Foden’s shot from around twelve meters is placed too centrally after a hook. Lucky for Alisson that this mistake is not punished!
10′
13:41
After a very dynamic start from the Skyblues in the first moments of the game, the pace has now slowed down. City has more control of the game in the current phase, Liverpool are defending very compactly deeper.
8th’
13:39
Haaland scrapes the ball from the baseline with his heel and places it right at Doku. He lacks some traction towards the goal, but the Reds are also working back ambitiously here. The ball gets to Rodri via a detour, whose chip ball is, for once, a bit imprecise for Walker. Goal kick for Liverpool.
5′
1:35 p.m
Bernardo Silva’s cross flies a little too far for Haaland, who is positioned at the second post.
4′
1:35 p.m
Liverpool now have their first longer periods of possession, but Klopp’s team is not yet dangerous in the final third. City’s counterattack via Foden also leads to nothing.
2′
13:33
The home team electrified the home crowd and launched the first dynamic wave of attacks. However, Matip defends Bernardo Silva’s flat cross pass and the Reds also successfully defend other first attempts at attack.
1′
13:31
Let’s go, the Premier League cracker is on! Chris Kavanagh is the referee. Manchester plays in sky blue jerseys, Liverpool in red.
13:29
The teams have entered the pitch and things can get started in just a few moments. Haaland vs. Salah, Pep vs. Klopp, first vs. second – this duel has many stories. Which one dominates today?
13:22
Jürgen Klopp left his defense and attack untouched compared to the 3-0 home win against Brentford, only making two changes in midfield. In addition to the ex-Leipziger Szoboszlai, Mac Allister and Curtis Jones are playing instead of Endo and Gakpo.
1:20 p.m
From City’s perspective, the most important personnel question has been answered positively: Erling Haaland can play despite his ankle problems. Compared to the 4-4 draw at Chelsea, there is only one change in the starting line-up: Aké defends instead of Gvardiol.
13:12
The Citizens have been unbeaten in their own stadium for more than a year. This season the points tally is the best possible so far – 15 points from five games.
1:06 p.m
However, things went very well for Manchester City; after a short period of weakness, the Skyblues got back into a winning streak. Before the international break, Pep Guardiola’s team was unable to expand on this and there was a strange 4-4 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
1:01 p.m
After a very stable October, Liverpool wobbled a bit more before the international break, couldn’t get beyond a 1-1 draw at Luton Town and lost in the Europa League at FC Toulouse. Thanks to a 3-0 home win against Brentford FC, Liverpool left the break with a good feeling.
1:00 p.m
But that only partially applies to Jürgen Klopp: The LFC coach actually has a positive balance in the duel with Pep Guardiola, although this largely results from his time at BVB and his earlier time at Liverpool. Recently the balance sheet has become rather weaker.
12:58
In the Premier League, Liverpool have only won once at the Etihad Stadium under Jürgen Klopp – in 2015, right at the start of the German coach’s tenure. Since then, City have had four wins and three draws – in the last four years, in addition to two draws from LFC’s perspective, there has also been a clear 4-0 defeat and a 4-1 defeat. Liverpool’s record at Anfield Road is better, but the Skyblues are definitely not Liverpool’s classic favorite opponent.
12:51
It’s not the only top game of this matchday: tomorrow Tottenham and the strong fifth-placed Aston Villa meet. Currently, Man City in first place and Aston Villa in fifth place are only three points apart. On this match day the shape of the top group could take even more shape, it could be a trend-setting match day for the Citizens, Reds, Spurs and Villans.
12:45
Now the duel at the top end of the table seems to be back again: Manchester City is at the top, Liverpool follows in second place with one point less and could take the lead in the table today with a win in a direct duel. Currently, it is not just a duel, but a multi-fight that is emerging: In addition to Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham and Aston Villa are hot on the heels of the industry leader Manchester.
12:45
After Citizens and Reds have repeatedly had more or less exciting title races in recent years – except for once always with a happy ending for City, Klopp’s Liverpool team collapsed a bit last year and did not reach the Champions League places.
12:34
Good day and welcome to the absolute top game in the Premier League! Manchester City welcomes Liverpool FC at the Etihad Stadium, the Premier League clash begins at 1:30 p.m.