There was a time when Liverpool vs Manchester City was more than just a big game: it was the game that decided seasons. A clash of titans, points worth titles, teams at their absolute peak. Today, the historical weight is still there, but the context is different. Neither side is living the peak they once had, and that changed the flavour of the encounter.
City arrived in 2nd place, but far from Arsenal and with a collective feeling of a team that is less overwhelming. Liverpool, in 6th, were playing with pure urgency and dropping points in February could cost them a Champions League spot.
First minute, first big chance: Bernardo finds Haaland making the run, Alisson saves, the ball drops again but the Norwegian can’t finish. It was the opening warning of a first half almost entirely painted blue. City had more ball, more shots, more attacking presence. Marmoush had a 1v1 that he dragged wide, a move that probably would have been ruled offside, but still a clear miss. The high press also worked: recoveries in the final third, quick shots and a Liverpool side pinned back.
The numbers at half-time explained everything without needing narrative: 10 City shots against 3 from Liverpool, xG clearly higher, obvious territorial dominance.
City controlled where the game was played. When Liverpool tried to build through the centre-backs, they were “invited” to go wide, away from the interior corridor where they actually create danger. Salah, wider and less explosive than in other times, struggled to consistently unbalance defenders. It was a first half of clear City superiority. Not spectacular, but authoritative.
But the game completely flipped in the second half. Liverpool came out with a different soul. Higher lines, more aggressive pressing, more bodies in the final third. In a few minutes they created more danger than in the entire first half: a Szoboszlai shot, a poisonous Salah cross for Ekitiké that should have been a goal, and another Gakpo chance right after.
City, on the other hand, repeated a pattern that has been recurring this season: physical and emotional drop in the second half. Intensity fell, possession control was lost and they started defending more than they wanted.
In the 74th minute came the moment that seemed to decide everything. A free kick from very far out, the kind that asks for more hope than conviction. Szoboszlai didn’t care. A thunderous strike with curl, the ball hits the post and goes in. An absurd screamer, the kind that lifts the stadium, the bench and even anyone watching neutrally at home (as was my case).
Guardiola’s team reacted like a big team. They pushed higher, forced Liverpool back and began piling up crosses and bodies in the box. At 84’, the equaliser arrived: Cherki cross, a deflection, the ball drops, Haaland wins it in the air and Bernardo Silva finishes.
Then in stoppage time, Marmoush is brought down by Alisson. Penalty and Haaland converts at 90+3′. Total composure.
The final minutes still had pure chaos: counter-attacks, a huge Donnarumma save, a Cherki goal ruled out with Alisson out of position, VAR, a red card for Szoboszlai, but the scoreline didn’t move again.
Post-game
A victory that says a lot about the current moment of both teams. Liverpool showed enormous character in the second half. They managed to flip the emotional dynamic of the game, push City back and came close to winning. But they also showed the fragility that has followed them this season: difficulty sustaining emotional control until the end against top sides.
On City’s side, a strong first half, clear dominance and then a drop in the second. The difference is that this time they had the competitive maturity to survive their worst moment and still come away with the win.
Bernardo stepped up again at a decisive moment, Haaland scored from the spot and Guardiola, even with a less brilliant City, showed that the team still knows how to win big games.
In the end it’s no longer a duel that decides titles between them like before, but it remains one of those matches that, even far from their peak, never stops carrying weight.