Manchester City vs Liverpool. Premier League.
Etihad StadiumAttendance54,172.
Sunday 10 September 2017 14:18, UK
Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League after a comprehensive 5-0 win over 10-man Liverpool, who had Sadio Mane sent off in the first half.
Sergio Aguero gave City the lead in the 24th minute before Liverpool were reduced to 10 men after Mane's high boot caught Ederson - who was stretchered from the field - in the jaw (37).
Gabriel Jesus (45+6, 53) extended the hosts' advantage either side of the break before substitute Leroy Sane rounded off the scoring with a late double (77, 90+1) as City inflicted Liverpool's first defeat of the season - their biggest under Jurgen Klopp in all competitions.
After their 4-0 thrashing of Arsenal, Liverpool started brightly with Mohamed Salah causing Nicolas Otamendi plenty of problems in the opening stages. In the 22nd minute Salah skipped past Otamendi, who was booked in the early stages, and burst into the penalty area, but the forward's weak effort was scooped up by Ederson at his near post.
The miss proved costly as City took the lead two minutes later, somewhat against the run of play. Kevin De Bruyne's inch-perfect pass dissected the Liverpool defence to release Aguero and the Argentine rounded Simon Mignolet to slot the ball home.
Then came the game's big talking point. Mane was released in behind the City defence but clattered into the on-rushing Ederson, catching the City 'keeper in the face with a high boot. Referee Jon Moss did not hesitate in brandishing a red card as Ederson left the field on a stretcher.
Things got even worse for the visitors when Jesus, who minutes earlier had an effort ruled out for offside, headed home De Bruyne's cross from close range as City doubled their advantage just before the break.
Liverpool switched to a back three at the break with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain coming on for his debut, replacing Salah, but the City onslaught continued.
Pep Guardiola's side had a second goal ruled out for offside after Aguero's toe-poke was chalked off but they did get their third minutes later when Fernandinho released Aguero, who unselfishly squared for Jesus to convert past Mignolet.
Liverpool's misery was compounded further in the 77th minute when Benjamin Mendy's pass afforded Sane a first-time finish and the Germany international grabbed his second of the game in stoppage time with a superb strike that picked out the top corner.
Pep Guardiola: "The action is hard. I cannot think a player like Mane is going to make hard contact to the face so I think he followed the ball, but the action is dangerous. I don't know if it is red card or not."
Jurgen Klopp: "I don't think it's a red card, Mane didn't see him. I saw the goalie already and obviously it's not that bad. In the first moment everyone thought it was really bad. It was unlucky, it was an accident. The goalkeeper comes out, Sadio wants the ball. To get a red card in a game like this is really unlucky."
Gary Neville: "It won't look pretty in the replays but in real time I don't think anybody in the stadium felt it wasn't a genuine attempt to play the ball (by Mane). I don't think that's a red card. However the keeper ends up, the rewards are so big. His eyes are on the ball. Sorry Jon Moss, you've just ruined the game there."
Gary Neville: "He was absolutely fantastic. In the big moments in the game, the first goal, it's a wonderful, wonderful pass.
"And then the second goal, in my opinion it's the biggest moment in the game other than the sending off in terms of taking the game away from Liverpool. The goal wasn't down to Liverpool being down to 10 men because they had bodies in the box, it was just a brilliant cross."
Both sides are in Champions League action on Wednesday with City travelling to Feyenoord and Liverpool hosting Sevilla.
Next Saturday, Liverpool host Burnley in the Premier League at 3pm, while City travel to Vicarage road to face Watford, also at 3pm.
