In a high-stakes clash at the Etihad, Liverpool walked away with a 2-0 win over Manchester City, capitalizing on their limited chances while keeping the reigning champions at bay. City dominated possession and created more opportunities, but a lack of clinical finishing and a resilient Liverpool defense saw the visitors snatch all three points.

Liverpool’s Efficiency Outshines City’s Possession Play

Manchester City controlled large spells of the game, ending with 65% possession and 15 shots, but they struggled to turn that dominance into goals. Liverpool, with only 7 shots, made their moments count, converting two of their four shots on target. City’s inability to break through a compact Liverpool backline proved costly.

Liverpool’s xG of 0.74 suggests their chances weren’t high-quality, but efficiency was the key. City, on the other hand, generated an xG of 0.79, reflecting a frustrating night where they failed to trouble Alisson.

Match Momentum: City Push, Liverpool Strike

The match momentum graph tells the story of City’s persistent attacking waves, but Liverpool’s defensive discipline ensured that most of the pressure led to nothing. Liverpool took their chances at critical moments, with Mohamed Salah opening the scoring in the 14th minute (xG: 0.15) and Dominik Szoboszlai doubling the lead in the 37th minute (xG: 0.10). City pushed harder in the second half, but a mixture of poor finishing and resolute defending denied them any breakthrough.

Shot Analysis: City Wasteful, Liverpool Clinical

Manchester City’s shot map highlights their struggles in front of goal. They managed 15 shots, with only 5 on target, and a total xG of 0.79. Many of their efforts came from outside the box, with 10 shots off target and 8 blocked.

Liverpool, in contrast, were precise. Despite taking only 7 shots, they hit the target 4 times, bagging 2 goals from inside the box. Their xG of 0.74 indicates that while they didn’t create a lot, they made their chances count.

Possession Tactics: City’s Wide Dominance vs Liverpool’s Compact Play

City’s pass map reflects their intricate build-up play, with Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden heavily involved in central areas. They stretched Liverpool’s defense using Jérémy Doku and Savinho out wide, but the final ball often lacked precision.

Liverpool, on the other hand, relied on a structured midfield and direct play. Their pass map shows key connections between Trent Alexander-Arnold, Szoboszlai, and Salah, who were instrumental in progressing the ball forward. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté held the defensive line well, ensuring City’s attacking midfielders found little space to operate.

Liverpool Get the Job Done

Manchester City had the control, the possession, and the territory-but Liverpool had the goals. A combination of defensive resilience, efficient finishing, and disciplined midfield play saw the visitors take a massive three points. City will be left to rue their missed chances, while Liverpool’s victory keeps them in the thick of the title race.