Manchester City ended the 20-game unbeaten run of Liverpool by beating them 2-1 at their own backyard. Goals from Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane turned out to be good enough despite Roberto Firmino levelling the score in the second half.
The gap has now become just four points following the victory for Pep Guardiola’s men who are currently with 47 points from 21 games followed by Tottenham Hotspur on 46 points.
Sadio Mane hit the post in the first half which the ricochet was cleared by John Stones in the first half, but Sergio Aguero made Liverpool pay with his exquisite finish five minutes before the halftime.
Roberto Firmino pulled back for the visitors through a header into the open net, but Leroy Sane’s cool finish into the bottom end corner regained the lead for the hosts.
It was a day to forget for Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dejan Lovren who were shaky right from minute one. Manchester City attackers just kept the pressure piling on them.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the game..
Four points… #PL #MCILIV pic.twitter.com/rPgzC7fXBQ
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 3, 2019
FULL-TIME Man City 2-1 Liverpool
The title race takes another twist as the champions inflict the Reds’ 1st #PL defeat of the season#MCILIV pic.twitter.com/PxKuUF1Cbl
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 3, 2019
You don’t get much closer…
Watch live on Sky Sports PL & Main Event or follow here: https://t.co/AlaCpCXy8J pic.twitter.com/emP3polssi
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 3, 2019
Mohamed Salah registered just 32 touches against Man City, the fewest among all players who started the match.
Limited to scraps. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/rv2DIJC22Y
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) January 3, 2019
Lovren was the difference tonight.
— Raphael Honigstein (@honigstein) January 3, 2019
Honestly, the midfield we started with was wrong. Result is absolutely gutting but we’re still four points clear
— LFC Fans Corner (@LFCFansCorner) January 3, 2019
📅 January 2018:
🔴 @LFC beat @ManCity 4-3 & end their 21 game unbeaten start to the @PremierLeague.
📅 January 2019:
🔵 @ManCity beat @LFC 2-1 & end their 20 game unbeaten start to the @PremierLeague.
😏 Redemption. pic.twitter.com/U28TIGMXak
— SPORF (@Sporf) January 3, 2019
📅 Tuesday:
🗣 Dejan Lovren: “Hopefully we can be unbeaten until the end of the season. Arsenal did it before so why not?”
📅 Thursday:
🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/q3siOcuwmK
— SPORF (@Sporf) January 3, 2019
Mo Salah registered just 29 touches against Manchester City – fewer than any other player that started the match.
Pocketed. pic.twitter.com/kLQGNkUn7e
— bet365 (@bet365) January 3, 2019
What a great game of football. 👏👏
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 3, 2019
Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone just agreed that was a magnificent game of football, contested by two outstanding teams? Liverpool edgy first half, better at 4-2-3-1. Man City’s work was extraordinary, Bernado Silva and Fernandinho of the highest class. A pleasure to watch.
— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) January 3, 2019
📊 Liverpool runs to come to an end tonight
9 successive PL wins
21 PL games without defeat, dating back to May
Last unbeaten record in top 4 divisions
23 PL games without conceding 2+ goals pic.twitter.com/evcni5d15v— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) January 3, 2019
With 17 games in the bag, things could drastically change. Manchester City will play Rotherham in the FA Cup on Sunday, whereas, Liverpool will take on Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night.
