Philippe Coutinho dealt a big blow to Manchester City’s Barclays Premier League title defence with the decisive goal in Liverpool’s 2-1 win at Anfield on Sunday.
With Chelsea playing in the Capital One Cup final later in the day, City could have moved within two points of the leaders, but Coutinho’s stunning strike gave Liverpool a crucial victory in their bid for a top-four finish. The same player scored the winner in this fixture least season. While that time City were able to recover to usurp Liverpool’s challenge, overtaking Chelsea may prove too much this time.
Jordan Henderson brought the game to life after 11 minutes with his third league goal of the season for the hosts, the 24-year-old finding the top corner from 20 yards. City were level midway through the half as Edin Dzeko converted his 50th Barclays Premier League strike from a sublime Sergio Aguero pass.
After such an action-packed 45 minutes, the second half struggled to reach similar heights until Coutinho took centre stage 15 minutes from time, the Brazilian curling home from the left-edge of the penalty area. Manuel Pellegrini’s side pushed for a second equaliser, but to no avail and City remain five points behind Chelsea having played a match more, while Liverpool are up to fifth, level on points with Arsenal, ahead of their match with Everton later that day.
A frenetic start was dominated by Liverpool, who made four changes from their defeat by Besiktas in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, with Adam Lallana twice going close.
Lallana’s first effort was saved by Joe Hart after a superb pass from Coutinho and, although the second beat the City goalkeeper, it was ruled out for offside.
Any home disappointment quickly faded as Henderson arrowed in a fine strike from the edge of the penalty area after 11 minutes. Coutinho was again involved as he robbed Vincent Kompany before combining with Raheem Sterling to get the ball to Henderson on the left. The Liverpool captain cut inside and gave Hart no chance with a powerful shot into the top-right corner.
City, who also made four changes following midweek European disappointment against Barcelona, responded strongly, Aguero sending a low drive against a post a minute after Henderson’s opener.
The champions continued to press and a crisp passing move involving Yaya Toure, David Silva and Aguero allowed Dzeko bring them level after 25 minutes.
The striker collected a perfectly weighted reverse pass from Aguero before firing past Simon Mignolet from 12 yards.
Lallana had a chance to restore Liverpool’s lead before the break from a chipped Lazar Markovic pass, but pulled his effort wide of Hart’s goal.
Both sides wasted chances early in the second half as Aguero and Sterling failed to convert from inside the penalty area, while Lallana had a second effort ruled out by the assistant referee.
Silva then spurned a promising position for City with an overhit free-kick.
That proved to be costly as Liverpool finally made their possession pay, Coutinho cutting in from the left, evading the challenge of Samir Nasri and Pablo Zabaleta to secure the win.
Aguero went agonisingly close to earning City a point with a low effort after 79 minutes, but the visitors were unable to find a second goal and handed the advantage to Chelsea in the race for the title.
source:premierleague.com
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 