This past weekend’s much-awaited game was the clash between the top two (before the gameweek began) in the Premier League – Liverpool and Manchester City, at Anfield.
The hosts, who started off slowly as Pep Guardiola’s men took the game to the Reds, counter-attacked well, and took their chances to put three past City.
Manchester City had a lot of chances, but Liverpool kept them at bay and the defending champions could not breach the strong defence led by the impenetrable Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool scored two in the opening 13 minutes, with Fabinho opening the scoring in the 6th minute followed by a goal from Mohamed Salah. Sadio Mane sealed all three points with a second-half goal, while Bernardo Silva’s 78th-minute goal was just a consolation for the defending Premier League champions.
The game wasn’t short of controversy as Pep Guardiola and the Manchester City players were furious with a handball by Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who handled inside his own box.
No penalty was given, and to make matters worse for the Citizens, Liverpool went to the other end to score a goal. The Reds defence dominated at the back, while the midfield, led by Fabinho, was impressive as well.
The win for Liverpool took them 9 points ahead of City, who dropped to fourth in the Premier League, while Liverpool extended their lead at the top to the second-placed team to 8 points.
The international break has probably come at the right time for Pep Guardiola, who can go back and assess where he and his team failed. Manchester City face Chelsea when club football returns in two weeks, while Liverpool face Crystal Palace, ahead of a difficult month or so of football for them.
As usual, opinion was divided online, with people praising Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp, and predicting the Reds to now win the title after taking a huge lead in the Premier League.
But, what dominated the opinion on social media was the VAR calls, and how it went against Manchester City which tilted the game towards Liverpool.
Let’s take a look at how Twitter reacted to Liverpool’s win over Manchester City in gameweek 12 of the Premier League:
Ok, to clarify this – ball DEFINITELY hit Bernardo hand, so penalty against AA could not be awarded. In fact, went straight from his hand onto AA arm (a deflection), which was not in an unnatural position, so that was not hand ball and advantage could be played for #LFC goal https://t.co/DRLPOsLxj8
— David Maddock (@MaddockMirror) November 10, 2019
Fabinho has never lost a Premier League match when staring for Liverpool:
WDWWWWWWWWDWDWDWWWWWWWWWWWWWDWW
What a player ?? #LFC #MCILIV pic.twitter.com/ZDudx2Uj1D
— TheKop.com (@TheKop_com) November 10, 2019
The two best full-backs in world football showcasing their talent here today. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson have caused City so many problems. #LFC
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) November 10, 2019
Your occasional reminder that West Brom, managed by Alan Pardew, were the last team to beat Liverpool at Anfield. #WBA #LFC pic.twitter.com/GNqrvdwg3k
— Baggies Bible (@TheBaggiesBible) November 10, 2019
Mo Salah for #LFC in all competitions so far:
? 121 appearance
⚽️ 80 Goals
? 34 Assists? 51 Goals in 60 appearances at Anfield.
KING ? ?? pic.twitter.com/3PYqUHQ527
— Castle Of The Kop (@CastleoftheKopp) November 10, 2019
3 – Manchester City are three goals behind in a Premier League game for the first time since January 2018, which was also at Anfield against Liverpool. Repeat. #LIVMCI pic.twitter.com/u6hG4jvI39
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 10, 2019
Huge 3 points for @LFC today & 9 points is a huge lead at this early stage. I thought @ManCity played very well with the ball, but they just couldn’t cope defensively. Fabinho & the CB’s were immense for #LiverpoolFC #LIVMANC
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) November 10, 2019
? | Gary Neville:
“Manchester City have £100m worth of full-backs on the bench or not selected in Mendy and Cancelo. Yet It’s an awful back 4/5. I don’t feel sorry for them.” pic.twitter.com/errPOkW4Q2
— The Anfield Buzz (@TheAnfieldBuzz) November 10, 2019
Clattenburg’s view on the penalty incident:
“It is the arm of Manchester City forward Bernardo Silva that deflects the ball onto Alexander Arnold and that is why, for me, play should not be brought back.”
— HarryLFC (@Hxrinder) November 11, 2019
VAR seemed to be silent today!! pic.twitter.com/nFxX9M91ol
— LaMount Dee (@LamountDee) November 10, 2019
Hello Pep, how many teams are sandwiched between Liverpool and Manchester City? pic.twitter.com/0Ce4mYbgHT
— corner taken quickly (@ThoseScouseLads) November 10, 2019
VAR took 3.5 minutes to disallow a Sheffield United goal for no real reason yesterday.
Today, within 10 seconds, 2 handballs were decided, and there was none of that line drawing check on Salah for offside.
Jose Mourinho: “The way Firmino plays to put Mané and Salah in such positions, the amount of ground Henderson and Wijnaldum cover in midfield – the puzzle is complete. I think the title is done, unless Liverpool face a dramatic injury crisis” ? pic.twitter.com/MS4hMV3NaJ
— RF9 ?? (@SambaRole) November 10, 2019
Where is the consistency?
— Sripad (@falsewinger) November 10, 2019
Maybe they’ve changed their thinking. If so that would be great as you can see a clear and obvious error in a few seconds of replays. If that is a new strategy, though, they should have informed everyone. https://t.co/bzGJMZOLX4
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 10, 2019
If VAR doesn’t think that is a penalty for Manchester City there is no point to it. Interesting experiment, but it serves no purpose now. #LIVMCI
— Sam Pilger (@sampilger) November 10, 2019
