Liverpool handed Manchester City their first Premier League defeat of the season thanks to a Mohamed Salah strike in an enthralling encounter at Anfield.
The Egyptian raced onto a long pass from Alisson with 14 minutes remaining before slotting past Ederson to give the Reds just their third league win of the season.
City were frustrated to see Phil Foden’s second half goal ruled out following a VAR check for a foul by Erling Haaland in the build-up.
The result leaves Pep Guardiola’s men four points behind league leaders Arsenal, while Liverpool move up to eighth after a much-improved showing.
100 Mo Salah has become only the second player in history to score 100+ left-footed goals, after Robbie Fowler (105). Wand.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
A high-octane start to the game did not lead to many early chances, with Ilkay Gundogan forcing the first save from either goalkeeper in the 15th minute, but his hopeful strike from 25 yards was easy for Alisson to deal with.
Liverpool s first opportunity came through Diogo Jota, who could only place his header from a cross by Harvey Elliott straight at Ederson, before Andrew Robertson received the ball on the left of the penalty area after the City stopper had palmed away a James Milner cross, but the Scot fired his effort over the crossbar.
Bernardo Silva sliced a shot into the Kop from the edge of the box on the half-hour mark, while Haaland tested Alisson on two occasions, also seeing a header loop over the bar.
The hosts should have been ahead shortly after the restart when Salah was played through on goal by Elliott, but Ederson got the slightest touch to it to tip the Egyptian s finish just wide of the right-hand post.
City thought they were ahead moments later when Haaland burst through, forcing a save from Alisson before Foden put the ball in the net on the rebound, but referee Anthony Taylor ruled it out after the VAR asked him to check the monitor, with Haaland having fouled Fabinho in the build-up.
It was Liverpool who took the lead on 76 minutes when Alisson caught a Kevin De Bruyne free-kick before launching it downfield to Salah, who outfoxed Joao Cancelo before finishing calmly past Ederson.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp was sent to the stands by Taylor late on after reacting furiously to the referee s refusal to award his team a free-kick, but it did not matter as Liverpool held on for a win that could turn around their slow start to the campaign.
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Klopp’s men have had a bumpy start to the season, to say the least, but they were every bit on City’s level here, giving the champions problems like no other team can.
This was the Liverpool of old, which should frighten the life out of the rest of the Premier League.
While City had more shots (16 to 13), it was the Reds who provided the expected goals, beating City 2.04 to 0.94 as they also edged the most important stat, the final score.
Sumptuous Salah makes more history
It looked to be another one of those days for Salah when his first effort was brilliantly saved by Ederson.
He was not to be denied twice, though, and his goal put him ahead of Steven Gerrard s tally of 120 league strikes for Liverpool.
Haaland oddly blunt at Anfield
Haaland has been an absolute machine since arriving from Borussia Dortmund, scoring 20 in 13 games in all competitions before this one.
The Norway international had six shots in all, testing Alisson four times with an xG of 0.44, but he could not add to his tally on a frustrating day on Merseyside.
Key Opta Facts
Liverpool are unbeaten across their last 28 Premier League matches at Anfield (W21 L7) since losing six in a row between January and March in 2021.
Manchester City have lost a Premier League away game for the first time since August 2021 against Tottenham, ending what was the longest unbeaten away run in their league history (22 games). This was the fourth longest unbeaten away run in Premier League history.
Liverpool have won 23 Premier League games against reigning champions, seven more than any other side. The Reds are unbeaten in their last 14 such home games (W8 D6).
Manchester City have failed to score in consecutive away games in all competitions for the first time since December 2020 against Porto and Manchester United.
Pep Guardiola has lost 11 matches against Jurgen Klopp as a manager, at least four more defeats than against any other coach.
What’s next?
Liverpool are back in league action in midweek as they host West Ham on Wednesday, while City are at home to Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.
