Liverpool breathe new life into their season as Salah magic sinks City

A magical moment of individual brilliance from Mohamed Salah inflicted Manchester City’s first competitive defeat of the season as Liverpool won 1-0 at Anfield in a game which saw manager Jurgen Klopp sent off.

City have been bringing out the best of their north-west rivals for the last five years with some epic title races, but on this occasion that energy was boiled down into 90 pulsating minutes.

Klopp’s side had been timid, lethargic and vulnerable on numerous occasions this season – leading to the German accepting they are not currently in the title race – but this performance was anything but.

It was the Liverpool of old, tenacious, positive and aggressive – although too aggressive from their manager whom referee Anthony Taylor sent from the touchline after he blew a fuse at the official’s refusal to give a foul against Salah.

The Egypt international had already done the crucial damage, however, with a lightning-quick goal which caught City cold.

As soon as Kevin De Bruyne’s 76th-minute free-kick was in the hands of goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Salah was on the move, allowing him to expose Joao Cancelo one-on-one 15 yards inside the opposition’s half.

When the offensively-minded defender tried to nick the ball, Salah rolled him, raced away and confidently struck an 11th goal of the season.

City had their moments, as they always do, but for once goal-machine Erling Haaland’s radar was off as Alisson became only the third goalkeeper – and second one from Liverpool – to shut out the Norway international.

Adrian, the Reds’ third-choice did so in their FA Community Shield victory, and so did Bournemouth’s Mark Travers.

The result still left Liverpool 10 points behind second-placed City, but the impact of it felt seismic