Jurgen Klopp’s side suffer after Sadio Mane’s red card

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 picked out Sane and the Germany international’s first-time finish flashed past Mignolet at his near post.

Sane grabbed his second of the game in stoppage time with a superb strike that picked out the top corner to round of an excellent afternoon for Guardiola’s men and a miserable one for the visitors.

Match stats

• This was Jurgen Klopp’s heaviest defeat in all competitions as Liverpool manager and his joint-heaviest ever managerial loss (lost 1-6 with Mainz vs Werder Bremen in October 2006).
• This was also Jurgen Klopp’s first Premier League defeat away from home to one last season’s top seven sides (P10 W5 D4 L1).
• Manchester City netted 5+ goals in a game versus Liverpool for the first time since March 1937 (5-1).
• Since he made his Manchester City debut, Kevin De Bruyne has assisted 2+ goals in seven different Premier League games (29 assists in total in that period).
• Sergio Aguero is now the top scoring non-European player in Premier League history (124), overtaking Dwight Yorke (123).

Man of the Match – Kevin De Bruyne

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.”

What’s next?

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.

Download Edujandon.com News App QR-Code

Edujandon.com - 24/7 News Upda

Developer: Edujandon Enterprises

Price: Free