Manchester City 1-2 Liverpool (1-5 aggregate): 3 Winners and Losers

Manchester City v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg
A tight affair!

The much expected second leg of the all-English encounter didn't disappoint. Not one bit.

Liverpool had a 3-0 advantage from the first leg and the onus was on City to do the miraculous. Pep Guardiola named an attacking line-up and they got off to the best possible start when Gabriel Jesus scored in the 2nd minute.

City completely dominated proceedings in the first half and Bernardo Silva had a shot deflected off the upright and a goal was dubiously flagged offside as Sane found the back of the net.

Liverpool's only chance in the first-half came through Oxlade Chamberlain who shot the ball off target after rounding Ederson. Guardiola was sent to the stands as he was involved in a heated argument with the referee.

However, Liverpool equalised through Mohammed Salah in the 56th minute to give them a 4-1 lead on aggregate, meaning City needed four goals in the space of 30 minuted to go through. Firmino put the tie to bed as he brilliantly finished past Ederson in the 77th minute.

Liverpool reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2008 and it is a night that they will never forget!

Here are three winners and losers from the game.


Winners:

#3 Dejan Lovren

Manchester City v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg
Hero!

Perhaps the last person Liverpool fans wanted to start against Manchester City was Dejan Lovren. The defender has come under criticism for silly errors all season and was seen as the weak link in the squad.

However, the Croatian has put all doubts to bed over the two legs as he has produced two colossal performances for Liverpool. He was fighting for every ball as if his life was on the line. And that's the mentality you want from your defenders.

He complemented Van Dijk perfectly and the brilliance of the duo was key to their qualification as they absolutely obliterated the free-flowing City attackers.

#2 Mohamed Salah

Manchester City v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg
Who else?

Is there any stopping this man?

The guy who has single-handedly raised Liverpool to another level this season was the hero again this evening as Mo Salah's goal in the 56th minute meant that City needed to score four more goals to go through.

After Sadio Mane was put through, the winger couldn't get enough space to take a full-powered shot. Ederson failed to keep hold of the ball and Salah was quick to react to the loose ball as he chipped it into the back of the net to send Liverpool fans into delirium.

He was doubtful to start the match and Liverpool fans were praying that he did. And when he starts these days, you know what is coming!

#1 Jurgen Klopp

Manchester City v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg
All smiles!

A Jurgen Klopp masterclass? It's one for the history books as Liverpool reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since the 2007-08 season. And no one will celebrate it more than he will.

For all the criticism his goalkeepers and defenders have been subjected to this season, it takes something special to annihilate Manchester City who have been a real force to be reckoned with this season. Makes it extra-special, doesn't it?

He has the best head to head record against Guardiola as a manager and he is proving to be a real thorn for Pep and his life at City.

Losers:

#3 David Silva

Manchester City v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg
A shocker!

Captain on the night, David Silva, had one of his worst performances in a City shirt.

Don't get me wrong. He is an absolutely a joy to watch when on form but today was not one of those days. His passes were wayward and his decision making in the final third was surprisingly bad. He was subbed off at the hour mark by Sergio Aguero and rightfully so.

Despite the Argentine failing to make an impact, City should have capitalised on their early goal and as a captain, he needed to be the inspiration on the night, and he was far away from being one.

#2 Leroy Sane

Manchester City v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg
Not a Sane performance!

The German had an absolutely shocking performance in the reverse leg and things were not better this time around as well.

He was caught offside a gazillion times today, particularly at times when City seemed to build up some momentum which allowed the Liverpool defence an occasional breather. He also found it tough to get the better of Trent Alexander-Arnold who was solid enough to contain the winger.

#1 Pep Guardiola

Manchester City v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg
Sent-off!

It is a night for Guardiola to forget.

The Spaniard decided to field an extremely attacking line-up, by playing only two regular centre-backs and the plan seemed to work when they got an early goal. However, the rest of the first half was a nightmare for the City manager as they failed to double the lead.

He was also given his marching orders at half-time after a heated argument with the match referee. Guardiola's decision to start Aymeric Laporte at left-back back-fired in the first leg and it didn't work out well today either.

City go crashing out and we all expected a bit more from them over the two legs considering how brilliant they have been all season. A 5-1 aggregate loss can be termed only as a humiliation.

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