Last night, as soon as the final whistle was hooted by the referee, there was something that moved inside me. This young city team has been performing well but not to the standards that Pep has set for City. Even yesterday, after a great first half, City was abject in the second half barring the last quarter. But the emotions that Haaland penalty invoked are hard to describe.
Even before the match started, there was a lot of hullaballoo around the implications of the match, especially on the title race. Even Arteta, the Gunners’ manager, had spoken on watching a big game(implying to the Liverpool vs City game). The match started with great tempo and it didn’t cease one bit. On the contrary, the pace kept on increasing. Like in most of other city matches, city dominated the first half. The ball possession, the passing, single touches, everything was on point, other than the end product. In spite of dominating the first half, Pep’s men weren’t able to capitalize and it was love all when the referee blew the half time whistle. Haaland & Semenyo had some good chances but they weren’t able to finish them.
Pep ditched both Foden & Cherki, in order to play Haaland & Marmoush as the two forwards in a 4-2-2-2 formation. It was an interesting tweak by pep and to be honest by the reaction of the Liverpool team, he surprised them. The Reds were found wanting from the very beginning and were trying to steal a goal rather than trying to score a goal. What I mean is, Alisson was trying to scoot the ball directly to Ekitike & Salah in order to score a goal, rather than keep some possession; he wasn’t trying to play from the back. City in reply, were their usual selves but the deadlock wasn’t to be broken and the first half ended at nil all.
In the second half, Slot changed the tactics after a bitter first half and the results were to be seen instantly. Liverpool were back playing rock n roll, single touch, high tempo football and they looked menacing. In fact, in the first quarter of the second half, I can’t seem to recollect a time when City had more than a few passes in tandem. Liverpool, buoyed by the home fans, were all over the Cityzens, who weren’t able to catch a break. All of this pressure resulted in a free kick for the Reds in the 74th minute, although, the city players weren’t happy that a foul was given.
Now if ever there was a time for the phrase “catch lightning in a jar” to be used, it was in the 74th minute, when the talented Hungarian Szoboszlai, took that free-kick. Words can’t explain how good that free-kick was and if it was any other team, it would have been a glorious winner but it was not any other team, it was man city, it was pep’s men. For so many years, we have seen city legends inspiring men around them, the likes of Yaya Toure, Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Aguero and Bernardo Silva has been no different but the skipper was in a different mood yesterday and his spirit, his footballing logic, his intuition were to be seen just ten minutes later, when he slid a Haaland header straight in for a goal. Although, Haaland & the others started celebrating, Silva straightaway picked up the ball and ran towards the center line, showing his intent was to win, showing what the standards of this club are and what Pep demands of his men. As a city fan, it was so heartening to see, no matter the result.
In the third minute of the additional time, Alisson had a rush of blood and he committed a foul on Nunes in the final third. Haaland who has a missed a couple of penalties this season, was as cool as cucumber and slotted the ball powerfully in the back of the net for a famous city win. The way Haaland celebrated showed what the goal meant to him & his teammates.
This result meant that the title race is still on and the gap between Arsenal & city is six points, with a match between the two still to be played at the Etihad. Nobody wants to be chased down in premier league and to be chased down by City is doubly dangerous. The season looks red hot and it just might go down to the wire.
