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Manchester City and Liverpool faced off in what promised to be a cracker of a game at the Emirates. The defending Champions needed to win it more than the League leaders to close the gap to just four points at the top.
The first chance of the game fell to Sadio Mane whose shot hit the post only for John Stones to almost put it into his own net seconds later. The breakthrough came when Sergio Aguero fired past Alisson to give the home side lead at the break.
Liverpool responded in the second half as Firmino scored the equalizer from a Robertson's cross. However, a few moments later, Leroy Sane hit a low driving shot which struck the inside of the post and went in to seal all three points for Pep Guardiola's side.
The victory reduced the deficit at the top to just four points and also ended Liverpool's unbeaten run in the process. Here the three takeaways from the game.
#3 Brilliant Sergio Aguero
Cometh the hour, Cometh the man.
Sergio Aguero has been one of Manchester City's best player down the years and once again, the Argentine proved today why he is the man for big occasions. Liverpool came close through Sadio Mane but that was the only shot on target from both the sides in the first half until Manchester City's all-time leading scorer came up with a superb finish.
The move was started by Sergio Aguero himself, whose ball found Sane who squared it off to Bernardo Silva and the Portuguese's low cross down the left flank was beautifully received and fired home by the Argentine. Even a goalkeeper like Alisson who is having one of the best seasons of his career got beaten in his near post.
Aguero had often come up with the goods when it mattered the most for Manchester City, most famously the last minute goal in 2012 to clinch the title on the very last day. The goal against Liverpool today could go down a long way in deciding who wins the Premier League come the end of the season.
#2 Manchester City's experience came handy today
It's not the first time that Manchester City is chasing the Premer League in the second half of the season. They have been in this situation before and came out with flying colors on those occasions as well.
In the 2011-12 campaign, Manchester City was in a similar sort of a situation when they hosted an upbeat Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium. On that very night, a powerful Vincent Kompany header took the Citizens over the line. That victory went a long way in Manchester City overcoming an eight-point deficit with six games to play to clinch a famous League win.
Another such inspiring moment came in the 2013-14 campaign when Liverpool were all set to win the Premier League title. However, a slip up towards the end allowed Manchester City to win the title again.
This victory would surely give them a boast and with just four points separating the top two, the title race is back on.
#1 A glorious unbeaten run finally comes to an end for Jurgen Klopp
Despite Manchester City winning the Premier League last time out, it was Jurgen Klopp's side who caught the eye of many with their fast, pacy, one-touch football. Liverpool was Pep Guardiola's bogey last season, beating them three times in all competitions. Jurgen identified the Reds most significant problem and addressed it by signing Virgil van Dijk in January and Alisson in the summer.
The defensive reinforcements completely changed the dynamic of the Liverpool side who conceded only eight goals in twenty games in the Premier League this season.
The Reds were going flawlessly until today when they got beaten by a better Manchester City side. Liverpool could not play their usual quick one-touch passing football which allowed Guardiola's team to have most of the ball, and eventually, two inspired moments by Sane and Aguero sealed all three points for the home side.
The defeat also ended Liverpool's unbeaten run to the Premier League campaign which was glorious to watch until it lasted.
