Manchester City 1-2 Liverpool: Champions League highlights and recap

Liverpool beat Manchester City at the Etihad on Tuesday, April 10. Here are all the highlights from the match.

Liverpool survived a ferocious first-half onslaught by Manchester City to book their place in the semifinals of the Champions League on Wednesday. The Reds ran out 2-1 winners on the day, but the tie was won and lost in a first half in which City could only turn their dominance into a one-goal advantage.

The Citizens didn’t take long to open the scoring, Gabriel Jesus slotting the ball past Loris Karius in the second minute. The goal was the result of a bad piece of play by Virgil van Dijk, who appeared more concerned with appealing for a foul when he played the clearance that provided City with the opening.

The goal galvanized Pep Guardiola’s side, who were essentially attacking with nine men while Nicolas Otamendi provided cover in behind. It was a bold strategy, but it worked superbly as Liverpool dropped deeper and deeper into their own half. Mohamed Salah, playing through the middle and his side’s only real out ball, barely got a touch.

Karius didn’t have to make any notable saves — though he was forced to punch away a couple of dangerous crosses — but this wasn’t the sort of directionless possession that characterized City’s second half at Anfield in the first leg. They had rattled the Reds, and should have been rewarded with a second goal in the 42nd minute.

Leroy Sane bundled the ball home after James Milner failed to clear the ball following a Karius punch, but was called back for offside. Sane was in an offside position, but replays showed the ball came off Milner. There was some discussion of whether Milner’s touch was deliberate, but the preceding touch came off Karius, which should have made that question irrelevant.

Regardless, the goal was disallowed, and Liverpool made it into the break only a goal down. Jurgen Klopp’s side improved notably after the break, controlling the ball better and giving the defense some time to recalibrate. They were rewarded with a goal in the 56th minute, Salah finishing after an excellent run by Sadio Mane.

That goal meant City needed four more to advance, and had a predictably deflating effect on the home side. Liverpool grew in confidence, and while the Citizens threw on Sergio Aguero and Ilkay Gundogan to chase the game, the tension of the first half seemed to evaporate. Roberto Firmino ended any hope of a comeback in the 77th minute with his first goal of the tie.

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Highlights

https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/983791491049910272

The Champions League semifinal draw will take place on Friday, April 13.