Liverpool secured an important 2-0 victory over Manchester Metropolis at Anfield, placing them 9 factors clear on the high of the Premier League.
Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah had been the heroes, with every discovering the online to make sure the hosts claimed all three factors.
The sport started at a frenetic tempo, with Liverpool instantly taking the initiative.
The Reds almost broke the impasse within the eleventh minute when Virgil van Dijk’s highly effective header from a nook rattled the put up.
Nonetheless, it didn’t take lengthy for Liverpool to capitalise on their dominance. Only a minute later, an excellent transfer down the precise noticed Trent Alexander-Arnold thread a exact go to Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian, as an alternative of capturing, selflessly squared the ball to Cody Gakpo, who slotted house from shut vary to present Liverpool an early 1-0 lead.
GET IN THEREEE!!!!! 🤩🔴 #LIVMCI pic.twitter.com/NEhKA1wIhb
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 1, 2024
Manchester Metropolis, subdued within the first half, struggled to search out their rhythm.
Pep Guardiola’s aspect was restricted to speculative efforts, with a uncommon likelihood falling to Rico Lewis within the thirty ninth minute, however his shot drifted extensive.
The Reds entered the break with a well-deserved lead, having outplayed their guests in almost each division.
Guardiola made changes on the break, introducing contemporary legs in Jeremy Doku and Savinho to inject tempo and creativity into Metropolis’s assault.
The guests noticed extra of the ball however lacked the leading edge to actually check Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
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— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 1, 2024
The turning level got here within the 77th minute when Darwin Nunez, just lately launched in its place, pressured Metropolis’s defence right into a mistake.
Manuel Akanji’s weak header again to goalkeeper Stefan Ortega allowed Luis Díaz to pounce.
Ortega’s determined lunge introduced Diaz down contained in the field, leaving the referee no alternative however to level to the spot.
Salah stepped up and coolly transformed the penalty, doubling Liverpool’s benefit and all however securing the victory.
Tempers flared late within the sport as Salah and Bernardo Silva exchanged phrases following a contentious problem, however the state of affairs was shortly defused.
Manchester Metropolis’s frustrations had been compounded when Kevin De Bruyne, launched in its place, was denied by an excellent double save from Kelleher within the 83rd minute.