Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden starred while Alisson Becker made huge blunders as Manchester City thrashed Liverpool 4-1 at Anfield in the Premier League.
The first half was a largely uneventful affair apart from one major incident, when Fabinho fouled Raheem Sterling in the Liverpool box to gift Manchester City a penalty. However, Ilkay Gundogan fired well over the bar as the two teams went into half-time on level terms.
Gundogan made amends for his miss early in the second half, poking home from close range after Alisson had parried a shot into his path. Liverpool, though, equalised through Mohamed Salah’s penalty a little after the hour mark, after he had gone down inside the box a little too easily under pressure from Ruben Dias.
What followed was a moment of madness from Alisson, whose botched clearance fell straight to Phil Foden, who drove into the box and set Gundogan up for his second of the night. Things got worse for the Liverpool goalkeeper as another mishit clearance went to Bernardo Silva, who set Raheem Sterling up for the third goal.
Foden then rubbed more salt into Liverpool’s wounds, scoring a sensational individual goal in the 83rd minute to fire Manchester City to a resounding 4-1 win over the champions at Anfield. Here’s how we rated the performances of both sets of players on Sunday evening.
Liverpool
Alisson Becker: 1/10
Alisson is the first Liverpool player to make 2+ errors leading to a goal in a Champions League or Premier League game since Loris Karius in the UCL final against Real Madrid. ? pic.twitter.com/2Xa28QwOGw
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 7, 2021
Shocking from the usually reliable Alisson Becker. Having been reinstated to the lineup after missing the last game, the Brazilian played a part in all of Manchester City’s first three goals, as he parried the ball straight into Gundogan’s path for the opener before hitting his clearances straight to Foden and Silva for the second and third goals respectively. Arguably, could have done a bit better to try and stop the fourth as well. Will want to forget this and move on quickly.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: 5/10
Had some bright moments going forward, especially in the first period. But was not able to secure his flank defensively, with Sterling enjoying a lot of positive moments. Was beaten way too easily by the former Liverpool man leading to City’s first. Got frustrated as the game wore on and had a bit of a petulant moment against Ederson late on.
Fabinho: 4/10
Back into the lineup after missing the last few matches, the Brazilian endured a forgettable return to the side. Looked slow and clumsy at times and conceded the penalty in the first period. Stood still as the City players ran around him in the build-up to the opening goal.
Leagues gone, get the new lads in the side & get our 2 most important midfielders back in the midfield instead of centre backs. Doing a decent job but massively missed in midfield. So much more reserved going forward without the protection & pressing Henderson and Fabinho give us
— Daniel Kearney (@dannykearney86) February 7, 2021
Jordan Henderson: 5/10
Once again preferred at centre-back over new signing Ozan Kabak, but it became clearer and clearer that the Liverpool skipper is not a natural in the role as the game wore on. Passed well for the most part but had no answer when the likes of Foden and Silva ran past him with the ball. High time he returns to midfield.
Andrew Robertson: 4/10
Nowhere near his best. Made a few decent overlapping runs in the first period but was constantly exposed at the back and he was not helped by the lack of cover from the attacker on his flank. Foden cut through easily in the space between him and Henderson quite regularly in the second half.
Thiago Alcantara: 4/10
Booked very early in the game for a needless challenge. Faded into periphery after that as he struggled to impose himself on the proceedings.
Georginio Wijnaldum: 5/10
Had a fairly solid first half when he helped shut down attacks in the middle and used the ball well when in possession. But overwhelmed after the break as Manchester City turned the style on.
Curtis Jones: 7/10
Curtis Jones’ game by numbers vs. Man City:
92% pass accuracy
65 touches
6 ball recoveries
4 duels won
4 interceptions
2 tackles
2 shots
1 clearance pic.twitter.com/EFwQens8s0— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 7, 2021
One of the few positives for Liverpool on the evening, the youngster was a bright spark in an uneventful first period as he tried to push forward when on the ball and worked hard off it as well, with a fine tackle to deny Foden a goalscoring chance particularly standing out. Had a shot blocked in the second period and was surprisingly taken off soon after the equaliser.
Mohamed Salah: 6/10
Quiet for almost the entirety of the game until he won the penalty in the second half, which he converted with aplomb. Quiet again, thereafter, though.
410 & 602 – Mohamed Salah's penalty has ended Liverpool's run of 410 minutes without a Premier League goal at Anfield, and also ended a run of 602 minutes without conceding a goal home and away in the competition for Man City. Broken. pic.twitter.com/2AKZcgswfp
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 7, 2021
Roberto Firmino: 5/10
Apart from one effort on target which Ederson stopped, the Brazilian did little of note in the attacking third. Pressed well from the top, but just could not get himself involved in the game.
Sadio Mane: 5/10
Returning to the side after his brief injury layoff, the Senegalese international got the better of Joao Cancelo on his flank at times, but could not make it count. Headed over the bar from a decent position and didn’t really threaten the goal, with his touch looking a tad rusty.
SUBSTITUTES
James Milner: 5/10
Came on to replace Jones soon after the equalising goal.
Xherdan Shaqiri: 5/10
On for Thiago in the 68th minute.
Kostas Tsimikas: N/A
Replaced Robertson in the 85th minute.
Manchester City
Ederson Moraes: 6/10
Made a jittery start, giving the ball away to Mane early in the game. Went the wrong way for the penalty but had little to do on the evening with Liverpool not working him enough.
Joao Cancelo: 6/10
The Player to Watch in our preview, Cancelo did have the kind of impact that he has been making in recent games. Was not able to get forward much with Mane’s threat looming large, who had the beating of the Portuguese on a few occasions in the first period. Still, coped fairly well to ensure his goalkeeper wasn’t called into action a lot.
John Stones: 7.5/10
Stones’ growth as City’s most reliable centre-back continued as he stood like a rock, heading away Liverpool’s attempted crosses, while he also showed confidence to step out of the defence and make key interceptions. Thought he had scored a goal but had drifted marginally offside.
Ruben Dias: 6/10
Had work to do with Liverpool targeting the left-side channel, but did his job without much fuss for the good part of an hour. However, he offered the hosts a way back into the game after botching an interception before fouling Salah to give away the penalty.
Dias dragging Zinchenko. Just an incredible out-of-context clip pic.twitter.com/NdGb1nAPAP
— Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) February 7, 2021
Oleksandr Zinchenko: 6/10
Preferred over Aymeric Laporte, the Ukrainian justified his selection with a largely assured display, even though he had a few iffy moments against Salah and Alexander-Arnold, especially in the first half. Improved with time though.
Bernardo Silva: 7/10
Full of energy and industry, the Portuguese midfielder pressed the opposition relentlessly, forcing turnovers in midfield. Got the assist for Sterling’s goal with a lovely chip after Alisson’s botched clearance fell straight to him.
Rodri: 7/10
Solid as ever in the centre of the park, the Spaniard broke up play effectively and initiated attacks with his precise distribution. Hardly put a foot wrong.
Ilkay Gundogan: 8/10
Most Premier League goals scored in 2021:
◉ Ilkay Gündogan (7)
◎ Harry Kane (4)
◎ Tomas Soucek (4)
◎ Matheus Pereira (4)
◎ Ollie Watkins (4)Catch him if you can. pic.twitter.com/GnzkFRZsba
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 7, 2021
Should have put Manchester City ahead but fired his penalty well over. Seemed a tad bit subdued in the first period, but burst into life after the break as he pushed forward with purpose. Redeemed himself to score the opening goal early in the second half before restoring the Cityzens’ lead with another goal from point-blank range. His excellent goal-scoring run continues.
Riyad Mahrez: 6/10
There were a few good moments and neat passes here and there, but the Algerian cut a largely quiet figure on the right side of the Manchester City attack and was the first one to be taken off.
Phil Foden: 9/10
Phil Foden’s game by numbers vs. Liverpool:
49 touches
10 duels won
6 ball recoveries
4 fouls won
3 interceptions
2 tackles
2 shots
2 shots on target
2 take-ons
1 goal
1 assistAn unbelievable talent. pic.twitter.com/lJpOtIp5Df
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 7, 2021
Starting in the false nine role, the youngster showed plenty of endeavour in the first half but could not make the kind of impact he would have liked. Moved to a slightly wider role after the break and he tore through the Liverpool defence relentlessly. Linked up well with Sterling before forcing Alisson into a save, leading to Gundogan’s first goal.
Then made a darting run through the Reds’ defence before laying the ball off to Gundogan cleverly for the second, before capping off a stunning display with a stunning strike late in the game. What a talent!
Raheem Sterling: 8/10
Has to be one of his best performances on return to Anfield since he left Liverpool for Manchester City. Was a menace all-game long with his direct approach play and won the penalty in the first half. Was involved in the lead-up to the first goal and scored the third one to put the game beyond his former club’s reach.
Raheem Sterling’s game by numbers vs. Liverpool:
85% pass accuracy
18 final third passes
10 attempted take-ons
4 successful take-ons
2 chances created
2 ball recoveries
2 tackles won
2 interceptions
2 fouls won
1 penalty won
1 goalOutstanding. ??? pic.twitter.com/zRrLLEvbUZ
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) February 7, 2021
SUBSTITUTES
Gabriel Jesus: 6/10
Came on for Mahrez in the 72nd minute. Pressed well from the front.
