A Tough Watch

    Despite it all, City win, and to be honest, i'm not angry, because angry is too nice of a word. A game that was turned on it's head by an AWFUL decision, I cannot begin to describe how disappointing and painful a watch this was. Liverpool fans are in a confusing position, on the one hand, proud of the first 60, on the other, disappointed by the half an hour that followed.

    Of course, this was always going to be a chaotic game, and if you wanted City to go into a cauldron anywhere in the league, it would, of course, be Anfield. The Liverpool fans did not disappoint, singing in full voice, putting up banners, and creating the sort of atmosphere that makes this ground so special. The Liverpool players responded with a particularly fast start and, in my opinion, their best football of the season. They pressed aggressively, looked dangerous going forward and actually gave City something to think about, rather than simply sitting back and allowing them to control proceedings.

    Having gone in at half-time at 0-0, both sides would have been relatively happy. Liverpool could point to the pressure they had applied and the chances they had created, whilst City knew exactly what Liverpool would try to do and were managing to hold them out. Liverpool had every reason to believe they could get something from the game.

    The second half started with more Liverpool pressure, and Donnarumma was forced into multiple saves to push away powerful shots early on. For a brief period, it felt like Liverpool might finally turn that pressure into something tangible. Anfield was rocking, City were being forced to defend, and the momentum was firmly with the home side.

    Then everything went south. Ryan Gravenberch received the softest red card I have seen in a long time, for leaning into Jeremy Doku. Whilst the red card ruined the game, it's not beyond me to say Iraola got it wrong. He tried to keep Liverpool as an attacking threat instead of trying to shut up shop, something that let us down not once, not twice, but three times. The main issue is that whilst trying to play football with 10 may work against a worse team, against a team right at the top like City (for now) doesn't work, and Iraola failed to acknowledge that.

    I think this was an isolated defeat for Liverpool, as they were very good even with a diminished team, I thought in particular Lewis Koumas and Victor Muñoz were very good, but I think the bigger picture is what message is out there. At the end of the game, 3-0 down, Liverpool fans could be heard chanting "Cheats!" at Man City. Whilst it is not the fault of those on the pitch, I have a feeling that is going to be a chant that sticks around and is used by all opponents of City, not just Liverpool fans.
City left Anfield with three points, but I think what will stick in their mind longer than this win is the idea that, in the end, this win could be worth nothing.