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After taking a 2-0 lead in the first half, Liverpool had to dig deep and find a way past City, which they eventually did, to leave them seven points ahead of the visitors, who have two games in hand. Here are the five talking points from the game.
#1 Anfield rolling back the years
On the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, not only did Liverpool turn back the clock their fans did as well. This was probably the loudest Anfield has been in a very long time. They got the best possible start when Sterling scored early on, which almost brought the roof down. But the hallmark of true fans is how they respond to adversity. With City levelling the score at 2-2, with still half an hour to go, the fans were stunned.
Suddenly, the team didn’t look as comfortable as they did in the first half and they needed their fans to give them a push. And boy did the Kop do that, as they breathed a new lease of life into the team and go onto score the all-important winner. As Rodgers said in his pre-match interview, the support of the fans is “something money can’t buy”, and Liverpool have plenty of that.
#2 The kids are alright
When you are playing arguably the most important home game in a very long time, experience is worth an awful lot more than just talent. But Brendan Rodgers didn’t see it that way as he fielded both Sterling and Flanagan, as reward for their consistently excellent performances so far this season. And the duo certainly justified their manager’s faith in them.
If it was Sterling’s goal that set Liverpool on their way, it was the young fullback’s excellent rear guard action that ensured that Liverpool came away with all three points in this most vital of games. For all of his early criticisms, Rodgers has always entrusted responsibility on youngsters and on the evidence so far, it looks as though it is finally bearing fruit.
#3 Players make Clattenburgs a lot more
The job of a referee is difficult as it is. But when you have players playing as though it was the national diving trials for Rio 2016, the job becomes all the more difficult. All in all, barring the decision to not send Suarez off for a second bookable offence for his plethora of dives, the referee had a solid game, even if he might be crucified for that in the days to come.
Whilst it wasn’t a dirty game by any stretch of the imagination, when players are rolling around as if they had been shot and play volleyball on a football pitch, it isn’t easy. But it was one that was handled really well by the referee and the linesman who get every off-side call and foul spot on. It was a game that demanded a strong character and Clattenburg, barring one occasion, displayed plenty of that, by never letting the occasion get to him.
#4 Has Gerrards time finally come?
Over the past two decades, Steven Gerrard has been the heart and soul of this football club. He is the one man who exemplifies what the club is all about. But, until a few months ago, it looked as though such a glittering career might end without a League title to show. But, after winning an enthralling encounter with City, Gerrard was in tears.
Right after the full-time whistle, he gathered his troops around and gave a speech that cannot really be written here. Such was the emotions of the day that even the greatest Liverpool player of his generation couldn’t quite contain himself. Whilst Gerrard might not accept that the title is theirs to lose, the truth is, it is. And he is within touching distance of the only trophy that has eluded him thus far.
#5 City left to rue missed chances and their rotten luck
Unless your name is Maradona, it is highly unlikely that you might get away with a hand ball in the penalty box. But Martin Skrtel managed what many defenders can only dream of getting away with, punt the ball clear with his hands and still stay on the pitch. And that wasn’t his only offense, the Slovakian tried his hand at rugby, wrestling and volleyball at Anfield inside a space of 90 minutes. And then there was Suarez not being sent off for a blatant dive. But, what must drive Pellegrini mad was not the refereeing decisions, but his players’ failure to turn up for the first half. Had they done so, they would have avoided going into the break 2-0 down and even after break, had Silva taken a couple of glorious chances, City might have come away with all three points. In the end, the result means that the title race is out of their hands and Pellegrini must be hoping to do his part whilst hoping for one slip up on the part of the Reds to claim his first League title in Europe.
