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Just like last season, Philippe Coutinho scored the crucial late winner to yet again break Manchester City's heart at the Anfield. After Jordan Henderson opened the scoring in the first half with a stunner, City responded within 14 minutes to level through Edin Dzeko. However, second game running, Coutinho scored a wonder goal to seal the game for the Reds. If Chelsea win their game in hand, City's chance of retaining the title will be near impossible.
Let us look at how the players performed on the night:
Liverpool
Simon Mignolet - 6/10
His positioning is still a worry for Liverpool. However, he cannot be blamed for City's equaliser.
Lazar Markovic - 6/10
He surged forward at every possible moment and defended well. However, his final ball let him down.
Emre Can - 6/10
He was very physical, looked composed and his distribution was good from the back.
Dejan Lovren - 6/10
Lovren was surprisingly composed on the night. He blocked crosses from coming in and his positioning was decent.
Martin Skrtel - 6/10
He was out of position for Dzeko's equaliser. He could have stayed back to cover Dzeko, instead he tried to stop Aguero from delivering the pass, in the end he did neither and found himself out of position. Otherwise his defending was good.
Alberto Moreno - 6.5/10
His pace was a big advantage in plenty of Liverpool counter attacks. His final balls and shot could have been better. He also defended okay.
Joe Allen - 6/10
Kept things moving in the middle of the park. He was neat and tidy with his passing, but nothing special.
Jordan Henderson - 7.5/10
Scored the opener from a wonder strike. His workrate on the night was good as he constantly closed down City midfielders. However, his passing let him down at times.
Adam Lallana - 6.5/10
Some of his touches and final passes was good on the night. However, he lost the ball quiet easily at times.
Philippe Coutinho - 8.5/10 (Man Of the match)
He was a constant threat for City defenders with his passing on the day. His positioning and movement was difficult for City to contain. Second week running, Coutinho scored a stunner.
Raheem Sterling - 7/10
He linked up well with his attackers to cause City all sort of troubles. However, his final pass or shot let him down.
Substitutes
Daniel Sturridge (76') - 5/10
He could have sealed the game in the end, but missed a great opportunity.
Kolo Touré - (83') - N/A
Hardly anytime to make an impact.
Manchester City
Joe Hart - 6/10
He cannot do anything with Henderson's wonder strike or with Coutinho's stunner. Apart from that, he was good between the sticks and did what was asked from him.
Pablo Zabaleta - 6/10
He was caught out of position on more than once in the first half. Especially for Liverpool's opener, he never came back to cover Henderson. He however grew in the match with every passing minute. His crossing was good.
Vincent Kompany - 6/10
Liverpool scored the opener after Coutinho won the ball from Kompany's feet. After a shaky start, his performance improved as the game went on.
Eliaquim Mangala - 6/10
Mangala looked vulnerable everytime he was left to defend one-on-one with Liverpool attackers. Especially Sterling enjoyed his battles with Mangala as he came on the winning side on many occasions in the first half. He, however, looked composed in clearing the ball away.
Aleksandar Kolarov - 6/10
He was soild at the back and surged forward everytime he can. However, his final ball let him down.
Yaya Toure - 7/10
His big physical presence in the middle of the park was a big advantage for City. He played a crucial role in their equaliser. Apart from few wayward passes, his passing on the day was good.
Fernandinho - 6/10
It was his poor pass to Kompany which allowed Coutinho to win the ball from the Belgian. He however made up for it by making a crucial interception on Sterling right at the break when he was free on goal.
David Silva - 7/10
He was at the heart of many City attacks and played a crucial role in City's equaliser. Liverpool found it difficult to control him.
Samir Nasri - 6/10
He was not at the same level of the Spanish maestro. Nasri was anonymous for most parts of the game and did not manage anything noteworthy.
Sergio Agüero - 7.5/10
He could have had a goal in the first half, if his shot had not come of the post. Also it was from his assist, Dzeko scored the equaliser. His nifty feet and quick turn caused all sort of troubles for Liverpool.
Edin Dzeko - 7/10
It was a composed finish to score City's leveller. He was otherwise unseen on the pitch and was taken off in the second half to add an extra body in midfield.
Substitutes
James Milner (58') - 5/10
Nothing special from the English midfielder, but a typical workman like performance from the midfielder.
Wilfried Bony (78') - 5/10
He was hardly presented with any chance to show his potential.
Frank Lampard (83) - N/A
Hardly anytime to make an impact.
