Tops / Flops Manchester City-Liverpool: De Bruyne still floats, Sterling passes through

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De Bruyne, him again

He had already put Manchester United to death on March 6 (doubled, 4-1 victory).

He also scored the only goal against Chelsea on January 15 (1-0) and against Atlético de Madrid in the ¼ first leg of the Champions League on Tuesday (1-0).

This Sunday, Kevin De Bruyne was again the strong man of a big meeting.

He quickly opened the scoring with the success of a deflected shot (5th).

He proved to be invaluable in a pressing that tortured Liverpool, and above all gave a few goal balls of which he alone has the secret.

If Sterling had not been denied a goal for a tiny offside (64th), if Jesus had not lacked altruism (72nd) and if Mahrez had not missed his lob (90th + 4), City would probably have emerged victorious.

No doubt, the maestro of City, it's him.

SEE ALSO –

All of De Bruyne's assists in the Premier League last season

City, an almost perfect first period

Liverpool had never trailed at half-time in a Premier League game this season.

And yet, Manchester City could consider themselves unhappy to lead only 2-1.

Guardiola's men assumed their high and aggressive pressing, causing shovel losses in the last 30 opposing meters.

There were also these collective movements to attack the depth, with the breakthroughs of De Bruyne, Foden and Cancelo, or these crosses to surprise the Reds, constantly on the back foot.

Liverpool had just 2 shots after 45 minutes, one of which was a desperate attempt by Alexander-Arnold from 50 yards.

Proof of the impotence caused by City.

The awakening of Salah and Mané

Very discreet in the first period, like their team, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané showed the way to theirs as soon as they left the locker room.

The first found the second with a delicate deep pass.

Without controlling and with Walker behind his back, Mané deceived Ederson to air-condition the Etihad Stadium (46th, 2-2).

The connection between the Egyptian and Senegalese gave air to the Reds, who found themselves almost with their eyes closed on large crosses to shake up the citizen block.

Mané even almost returned the favor to Salah, but the latter saw his curled shot deflected by the thigh of Aymeric Laporte (71st).

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Long feverish Liverpool

If Manchester City were so impressive in the first half, it's also because Liverpool were infuriating at the same time.

Alisson recalled the bad memory by badly negotiating several raises at the foot.

Joël Matip and Virgil van Dijk did not sweat serenity either, not to mention the defensive mistakes of Alexander-Arnold, who caught up on the other side of the field.

The excitement of the Reds could have weighed them down very quickly in this part, and yet there was not much unexpected in the high pressing of the Citizens.

Sterling, the missing link

Phil Foden made a few breakthroughs with the ball at his feet.

Gabriel Jesus scored with composure despite bad choices.

As for Raheem Sterling, he is the Citizen who has … touched the least balls (17 in 75 minutes).

A slight offside position on his goal, where he won his face-to-face with Alisson, prevented him from saving his match (64th).

He offered very little ball at the foot and did not know how to improve the few balls that were given to him in depth.

Replaced by Riyad Mahrez who hit the post and missed a big chance in a quarter of an hour.