Guardiola savours long-awaited victory amid intense drama
Pep Guardiola celebrated a long-awaited triumph at Anfield, his first in front of fans since before the pandemic era. Manchester City pulled off a stunning result against Liverpool, turning a seemingly lost cause into a vital boost for their Premier League title pursuit. The manager’s visible relief spoke volumes about the stakes involved in this late-season clash. After trailing in the race and facing mounting pressure, City showed resilience and experience to keep their hopes alive with 13 games remaining.
Guéhi’s composure under fire sparks boos and key interventions
The spotlight fell heavily on Marc Guéhi, City’s defender who faced hostile treatment from the Anfield crowd. Every touch drew boos, likely stemming from his past near-move to Liverpool that fell through last summer due to Crystal Palace blocking it, followed by his January switch to City and subsequent comment about joining England’s top club. Despite the reception, Guéhi delivered a composed performance full of crucial defensive actions. He blocked dangerous efforts from Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitiké, intercepted a threatening pass to Mohamed Salah, and stood firm throughout. Arne Slot acknowledged the defender’s quality as a smart acquisition for Guardiola, even while questioning an earlier non-red card decision for a pull on Salah.
Late twists turn the game and reshape the standings
Liverpool dominated the second half with renewed aggression after a shaky first period that gifted City control. Dominik Szoboszlai’s brilliant 30-yard free-kick in the 74th minute put the home side ahead and stretched Arsenal’s lead at the top to nine points. However, the momentum shifted dramatically. Szoboszlai received a red card late on for a similar foul, reducing Liverpool to ten men. City capitalised on the numerical advantage in stoppage time to equalise and then snatch a winner, cutting the gap to Arsenal to six points by the final whistle and further in added time. Contributions from Bernardo Silva, Rodri, and goalkeeper Donnarumma proved decisive, but Guéhi’s recovery after his earlier scare anchored the backline during intense late pressure.
Tactical battles and broader implications for the run-in
City’s risky build-up play from the back drew occasional frustration from Guardiola, particularly with Donnarumma’s distribution under pressure. Yet the team adapted and held firm when Liverpool pushed hard for an equaliser. The victory marked City’s first league success at Anfield with supporters present since 2003, ending a long wait and sending a clear message that the title remains contested. Guardiola emphasised focusing on the immediate while knowing anything remains possible over the closing fixtures. This result could echo through the remaining matches, injecting fresh belief into City’s campaign.
