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Match Report

Barclays Premier League

Sunday, 1 March 2015,

Liverpool
2
-
Full Time
Live
-
1
Man City
  • Kickoff: 13:00 BST
  • Stadium: Anfield
  • Referee: -
  • Stadium: Anfield
  • Attendance: 44,590
  • 11' Jordan Henderson
  • 75' Philippe Coutinho
  • 25' Edin Dzeko

Liverpool

Half time

Full time

Manchester City

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Rodgers upbeat despite Europe exit

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admits their Europa League exit may yet prove to be a blessing in disguise.

The Reds' run in the competition, having dropped down from the Champions League, lasted just one round as they lost to Besiktas on penalties on Thursday.

Rodgers insists there was no psychological damage from the first European penalty shoot-out defeat in the club's history and believes it may end up working in their favour.

Last season, without the demands of Europe, his side hit top form after the turn of the year, winning 15 league matches, drawing three and losing just one as they finished second in the title race to Sunday's opponents Manchester City.

With that in mind, Rodgers is now looking forward to being able to focus on one match a week without any Europa League distractions.

"At the time you don't like to say that because we want to win, and this year has been an experience for us both in the Champions League and Europa League," said the Northern Irishman, whose side were just three points off third place going into the weekend.

"A lot of young players have gained invaluable experience in Europe this year and will be better for it.

"We want to be in those competitions and the Champions League consistently for the next number of years but there is no doubt with that out of the way, and after next week's game against Burnley (on Wednesday), we will go to nearly one game a week, which probably for the first time this season will give us (the) chance to prepare every aspect."

It has been a quick turnaround to get the players ready to face City as extra-time and penalties in Istanbul meant the squad were even later getting back to Liverpool than they had anticipated.

It gave them less than 55 hours to prepare whereas the visitors will have had an extra two days' rest, having played in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Rodgers will be able to bring playmaker Philippe Coutinho back into the team having rested him in midweek.

Lazar Markovic is available after suspension in Europe and a late decision will be made on the ankle injury which forced Jordan Henderson to miss the trip, but the Reds boss is effectively selecting from the same squad which was left heartbroken in the Ataturk Stadium.

"It was always going to be difficult in terms of the preparation - you don't have to be a sports scientist to know when you arrive back at 4.30am on Friday and you have a game early on Sunday physically there will be a cost," Rodgers said.

"But if you look at where the team is at there is no psychological damage from the other night."

Rodgers will be hoping the 105 minutes striker Daniel Sturridge played on Thursday will not have a detrimental effect when he comes up against his former club at Anfield.

"We have to manage Daniel. He had given everything in the game," said the manager, when asked why Sturridge had not been kept on to try to snatch the away goal which would have effectively killed the tie.

"This is a player who is coming back from five months out injured, who is still gaining fitness in games, and we have to be really careful he doesn't break.

"Daniel's history shows that as he has a past in terms of injuries.

"There has been very little training in between games. He had no more left in his legs and we needed to take him off to prevent him getting an injury when he was very tired."

City manager Manuel Pellegrini knows his side must address their poor record at Anfield to turn up the heat in the title race.

With Chelsea involved in the Capital One Cup final this weekend, the champions can cut the gap at the top of the Barclays Premier League to two points with victory against Rodgers' men.

But history is not on their side, with City having not won at the home of the Reds in any of their last 11 league visits - seven of which they have lost.

Pellegrini feels it is about time his team put that statistic right.

He said: "Always Liverpool are a strong team with a difficult stadium, but I also think all those statistics - you must change it.

"This year we won at Stoke, and in the last six years we never did that."

City could hand a full debut to B£25million-signing Wilfried Bony, who has made two substitute appearances in the past week after returning from the African Nations Cup.

Pellegrini said: "We will see which is the best moment for him to start. It is important for him, every time that he goes in, to give to our team what we know he can do."

91'+3

End Regular Time

91'+2

Attempt missed. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by David Silva.

91'+2

David Silva (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 93'

91'+2

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 93'

91'+1

Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City) Throw In at 92'

91'+1

Simon Mignolet (Liverpool) Free Kick at 92'

91'

Kolo Touré (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

91'

Joe Hart (Manchester City) Free Kick at 91'

91'

Foul by Raheem Sterling (Liverpool).

91'

Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City) Throw In at 91'

91'

Emre Can (Liverpool) Blocked Pass at 91'

90'

Attempt missed. David Silva (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Yaya Touré.

90'

Yaya Touré (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 90'

89'

David Silva (Manchester City) Throw In at 89'

89'

Emre Can (Liverpool) Throw In at 89'

88'

Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City) Blocked Pass at 88'

87'

Attempt missed. Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Jordan Henderson.

87'

Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) Assists Shot at 87'

87'

Adam Lallana (Liverpool) Free Kick at 87'

87'

Foul by Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City).

87'

Dejan Lovren (Liverpool) Free Kick at 87'

86'

Wilfried Bony

86'

Foul by Wilfried Bony (Manchester City).

85'

Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Vincent Kompany.

85'

Attempt blocked. Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Raheem Sterling.

85'

Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) Assists Shot at 85'

84'

David Silva (Manchester City) Free Kick at 84'

84'

Adam Lallana

84'

James Milner (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

83'

Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) Free Kick at 83'

83'

Substitution, Manchester City. Frank Lampard replaces Samir Nasri.

83'

Substitution, Liverpool. Kolo Touré replaces Alberto Moreno.

82'

James Milner

82'

Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

82'

Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) Throw In at 81'

81'

Simon Mignolet (Liverpool) Free Kick at 81'

81'

Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

79'

Attempt missed. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the left.

78'

James Milner (Manchester City) Free Kick at 78'

78'

Substitution, Manchester City. Wilfried Bony replaces Fernandinho.

78'

Hand ball by Emre Can (Liverpool).

78'

Adam Lallana (Liverpool) Blocked Pass at 78'

77'

Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City) Throw In at 77'

76'

Substitution, Liverpool. Daniel Sturridge replaces Lazar Markovic.

75'

2 - 1

Goal! Liverpool 2, Manchester City 1. Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Raheem Sterling.

75'

Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) Assists Shot at 75'

75'

Eliaquim Mangala (Manchester City) Blocked Pass at 75'

74'

David Silva (Manchester City) Blocked Pass at 74'

72'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 72'

72'

Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) Blocked Pass at 72'

72'

Alberto Moreno (Liverpool) Blocked Pass at 72'

70'

Martin Skrtel (Liverpool) Free Kick at 70'

70'

Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).

70'

David Silva (Manchester City) Free Kick at 70'

69'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

69'

Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) Blocked Pass at 69'

67'

Lazar Markovic (Liverpool) Throw In at 67'

66'

David Silva (Manchester City) Throw In at 66'

66'

Samir Nasri (Manchester City) Throw In at 66'

65'

Emre Can (Liverpool) Free Kick at 65'

65'

Hand ball by James Milner (Manchester City).

62'

Fernandinho (Manchester City) Blocked Pass at 62'

62'

Alberto Moreno (Liverpool) Throw In at 62'

59'

Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City) Throw In at 59'

58'

Alberto Moreno (Liverpool) Throw In at 58'

58'

Martin Skrtel (Liverpool) Free Kick at 58'

58'

Substitution, Manchester City. James Milner replaces Edin Dzeko.

57'

Samir Nasri

57'

Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

57'

Emre Can (Liverpool) Free Kick at 57'

57'

Lazar Markovic (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

56'

Emre Can (Liverpool) Free Kick at 56'

55'

Foul by Edin Dzeko (Manchester City).

55'

Eliaquim Mangala (Manchester City) Blocked Pass at 55'

55'

Joe Hart (Manchester City) Free Kick at 55'

54'

Joe Allen (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.

53'

Alberto Moreno (Liverpool) Throw In at 53'

53'

Lazar Markovic (Liverpool) Throw In at 53'

52'

Attempt missed. Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.

52'

Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) Free Kick at 52'

51'

Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

51'

Lazar Markovic (Liverpool) Throw In at 51'

50'

Emre Can (Liverpool) Throw In at 50'

48'

Dejan Lovren (Liverpool) Free Kick at 48'

48'

Offside, Manchester City. Fernandinho tries a through ball, but Samir Nasri is caught offside.

48'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 48'

47'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 47'

46'

Attempt missed. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Pablo Zabaleta with a cross.

46'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 46'

46'

Second Half begins Liverpool 1, Manchester City 1.

46'+1

First Half ends, Liverpool 1, Manchester City 1.

46'

Attempt saved. Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

45'

Alberto Moreno (Liverpool) Throw In at 45'

44'

Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) Corner Kick at 44'

43'

Attempt saved. Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Alberto Moreno.

43'

Alberto Moreno (Liverpool) Assists Shot at 43'

42'

Lazar Markovic (Liverpool) Throw In at 42'

42'

Martin Skrtel (Liverpool) Free Kick at 42'

41'

Offside, Manchester City. Fernandinho tries a through ball, but Sergio Agüero is caught offside.

41'

Martin Skrtel (Liverpool) Free Kick at 41'

41'

Offside, Manchester City. Yaya Touré tries a through ball, but Edin Dzeko is caught offside.

40'

Samir Nasri (Manchester City) Throw In at 40'

39'

Eliaquim Mangala (Manchester City) Free Kick at 39'

39'

Offside, Liverpool. Joe Allen tries a through ball, but Raheem Sterling is caught offside.

38'

Dejan Lovren (Liverpool) Free Kick at 38'

38'

Offside, Manchester City. Vincent Kompany tries a through ball, but Samir Nasri is caught offside.

38'

Yaya Touré (Manchester City) Free Kick at 38'

37'

Foul by Raheem Sterling (Liverpool).

36'

Joe Allen (Liverpool) Free Kick at 36'

36'

Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

36'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 36'

35'

Attempt missed. Adam Lallana (Liverpool) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Lazar Markovic with a through ball.

35'

Lazar Markovic (Liverpool) Assists Shot at 35'

34'

Emre Can (Liverpool) Blocked Pass at 34'

32'

Attempt missed. Edin Dzeko (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Fernandinho.

32'

Fernandinho (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 32'

32'

Alberto Moreno (Liverpool) Throw In at 32'

31'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Blocked Pass at 31'

31'

Alberto Moreno (Liverpool) Throw In at 31'

30'

Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) Free Kick at 30'

30'

Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

29'

Alberto Moreno (Liverpool) Throw In at 29'

29'

Samir Nasri (Manchester City) Free Kick at 29'

28'

Foul by Joe Allen (Liverpool).

27'

Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Fernandinho.

27'

Joe Allen (Liverpool) Free Kick at 27'

27'

Foul by Yaya Touré (Manchester City).

25'

1 - 1

Goal! Liverpool 1, Manchester City 1. Edin Dzeko (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Sergio Agüero with a through ball.

25'

Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 25'

25'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 25'

24'

Lazar Markovic (Liverpool) Throw In at 24'

24'

Emre Can (Liverpool) Free Kick at 24'

24'

Offside, Manchester City. David Silva tries a through ball, but Edin Dzeko is caught offside.

21'

Attempt missed. Alberto Moreno (Liverpool) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Joe Allen.

21'

Joe Allen (Liverpool) Assists Shot at 21'

21'

Alberto Moreno (Liverpool) Throw In at 21'

20'

Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) Blocked Pass at 20'

18'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 18'

18'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 18'

17'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 17'

17'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 17'

17'

Alberto Moreno (Liverpool) Throw In at 17'

16'

Yaya Touré (Manchester City) Free Kick at 16'

15'

Foul by Lazar Markovic (Liverpool).

15'

Lazar Markovic (Liverpool) Throw In at 15'

13'

Attempt missed. Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Alberto Moreno.

13'

Alberto Moreno (Liverpool) Assists Shot at 13'

13'

Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) hits the right post with a left footed shot from the left side of the box. Assisted by David Silva with a through ball.

13'

David Silva (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 13'

11'

1 - 0

Goal! Liverpool 1, Manchester City 0. Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Raheem Sterling.

11'

Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) Assists Shot at 11'

10'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 10'

10'

Joe Hart (Manchester City) Free Kick at 10'

9'

Offside, Liverpool. Philippe Coutinho tries a through ball, but Adam Lallana is caught offside.

8'

Attempt saved. Adam Lallana (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Philippe Coutinho.

8'

Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) Assists Shot at 8'

8'

Attempt missed. Yaya Touré (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.

7'

Yaya Touré (Manchester City) Throw In at 7'

6'

Fernandinho (Manchester City) Free Kick at 6'

6'

Foul by Adam Lallana (Liverpool).

6'

Edin Dzeko (Manchester City) Blocked Pass at 6'

6'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 6'

5'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 5'

5'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 5'

4'

Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) Blocked Pass at 4'

4'

Simon Mignolet (Liverpool) Free Kick at 4'

4'

Hand ball by Edin Dzeko (Manchester City).

4'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 4'

3'

Simon Mignolet (Liverpool) Free Kick at 3'

2'

Offside, Manchester City. Edin Dzeko tries a through ball, but Sergio Agüero is caught offside.

2'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 2'

1'

Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) Blocked Pass at 1'

1'

First Half begins.

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Possession

48%
52%
  • Liverpool
  • Manchester City

Shots

11
8

Shots on target

5
1

Fouls

8
16

Corners

3
0

Yellow Cards

1
3

Red Cards

0
0

Head to Head

Liverpool2 - 1Man City
Man City3 - 1Liverpool
Liverpool3 - 2Man City
Man City2 - 1Liverpool
Man City2 - 2Liverpool
Liverpool2 - 2Man City

Liverpool

  • 22Simon Mignolet
  • 23Emre Can
  • 6Dejan Lovren
  • 50Lazar Markovic
  • -> Daniel Sturridge
  • 18Alberto Moreno
  • -> Kolo Touré
  • 31Raheem Sterling
  • 24Joe Allen
  • 37Martin Skrtel
  • 20Adam Lallana
  • 14Jordan Henderson
  • 10Philippe Coutinho
  • Subs
  • 9Rickie Lambert
  • 29Fabio Borini
  • 49Jordan Williams
  • 45Mario Balotelli
  • 52Danny Ward

Man City

  • 1Joe Hart
  • 4Vincent Kompany
  • 5Pablo Zabaleta
  • 20Eliaquim Mangala
  • 11Aleksandar Kolarov
  • 21David Silva
  • 8Samir Nasri
  • -> Frank Lampard
  • 42Yaya Touré
  • 10Edin Dzeko
  • -> James Milner
  • 16Sergio Agüero
  • 25Fernandinho
  • -> Wilfried Bony
  • Subs
  • 22Gaël Clichy
  • 13Wilfredo Caballero
  • 26Martín Demichelis
  • 6Fernando

Philippe Coutinho cracker earns Liverpool victory over Man City

Liverpool put a huge dent in Manchester City's title hopes with a 2-1 victory which dramatically enhanced their own hopes of a top-four finish.

Chelsea's involvement in the Capital One Cup final had given Manuel Pellegrini's side a chance to reduce the gap at the top to two points but, as was the case last season, they were cut down at Anfield.

Eleven months ago defeat here did not prove their undoing in the title race as Chelsea did them a favour by winning at Anfield.

This time it was Liverpool doing Chelsea favours -- not something their fans would usually celebrate but on this occasion their club's needs come first, and with the championship beyond their means, the race for Champions League qualification takes priority.

Jordan Henderson's brilliant opener was matched by an equally good team goal from Edin Dzeko but Philippe Coutinho's 75th-minute winner eclipsed them all.

Anfield is a bad ground for City, who have now not won here in 12 league matches, yet it was supposed to be their hosts who were mourning a Europa League exit to Besiktas on penalties on Thursday.

City reverted to the team which thrashed Newcastle 5-0 last weekend after losing to Barcelona in midweek but it was the home side, registering four changes -- most significantly returning playmaker Coutinho -- from the defeat to Besiktas, who got off to a flier.

Coutinho, who twice set up Adam Lallana to first shoot weakly at Joe Hart and then brilliantly finish from a narrow angle only to be judged marginally offside, was the instigator.

Pressing hard he robbed Vincent Kompany and rode a challenge from the City captain before laying off to Raheem Sterling, who gave Kompany a torrid time in the first half, and he teed up Henderson to curl a beauty over Hart and into the top corner in the 11th minute.

Immediately the intensity went up a notch, with Sergio Aguero breaking free of Skrtel and beating Simon Mignolet but not the far post with a left-footed shot.

It was end-to-end stuff, with the creative Coutinho and equally mercurial David Silva running the show for their respective sides, although an honourable mention should go to the pint-sized Joe Allen, who was a giant in midfield against players of huge size and even bigger reputations.

The former's ball with the outside of his right foot sent Sterling racing down the left wing, but although he easily jinked past Eliaquim Mangala, City's 32 million-pound summer signing, his cross rolled through the six-yard area with no-one to knock it in.

Silva was increasingly finding space in front of Liverpool's back four, the area where he is most dangerous, and from there he crafted City's 25th-minute equaliser.

The Spain international picked out Aguero, whose sublime ball to Dzeko was deservedly rewarded with a goal as the Bosnian slotted past Mignolet for his 50th Premier League goal.

From then on the game became even more open and entertaining, something of a rarity for a noon kick-off on a Sunday.

Both defences looked to be the weakest links, with Mangala equally out of touch as Kompany while Dejan Lovren's presence in the back three, after his penalty shoot-out miss in Istanbul cost his side Europa League progress, seemed to cause as much indecision in Liverpool's ranks as it did consternation in the stands.

The ripple of applause he received for holding off or, depending on your persuasion, pushing over Pablo Zabaleta in the box just before half-time seemed more in relief than appreciation.

Attacks continued, with Aguero heading over 20 seconds into the second half and Sterling bundling wide a Lallana cross, but the quality level dropped somewhat.

In an instant it was raised again, in the 75th minute, when Coutinho cut in from the left, dropped his shoulder and unleashed an arcing shot which dipped over the outstretched fingertips of Hart.

Once again going behind sparked City to go to another gear and, having sent on striker Wilfried Bony for Fernandinho, Aguero's angled shot whistled just past the far post after Lovren had lunged in.

A frenzied final 10 minutes saw Coutinho have another shot deflected over, Bony escape with a yellow card after appearing to lead with an elbow on Lallana, substitute Daniel Sturridge roll a shot wide with only Hart to beat and Silva flash a shot just off target with the seconds ticking down.




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