A generation of Manchester City supporters had not experienced a winning feeling at Anfield – but all that changed on a highly dramatic Sunday evening.
Trailing 1-0 to Liverpool in the 84th minute, it was turning into a theme familiar for the Citizens faithful until captain Bernardo Silva and the ice-cool Erling Haaland both netted in the dying stages to hand Pep Guardiola’s side a memorable victory.
City supporters were riotous when Rayan Cherki rolled in a third into an empty net from just inside his own half, but the goal was eventually ruled out by the video assistant referee (VAR).
It mattered little as they stayed well after the final whistle to celebrate their side’s triumph – only a third in the league since 1981.
It was also result that keeps City in the title race. Just.
Boss Pep Guardiola joked afterwards about their last victory at Anfield five years ago, which came behind closed doors during Covid restrictions, saying: “That doesn’t count, right?”
But this brilliant turnaround meant City are only six points adrift of leaders Arsenal with 13 games left to play – including a Gunners visit to Etihad Stadium in April – having been staring at a nine-point deficit in the closing stages.
“It is so difficult, Anfield is Anfield – the tradition, the history and the crowd,” added Guardiola. “It always looks smaller, tighter here and the pitch doesn’t look like Etihad Stadium – and the players that they have, and everything.
“Of course we would be disappointed and all the questions would be over and over [about the title race] but six points is better than nine. It is still a lot considering how strong Arsenal are in all departments.
“The last 10 games, from my experience, it is so difficult. The important thing is to try to be there and improve because the second half was not good enough again.
“All we can do is breathe down the neck of Arsenal and being there, try if they go slip [up] and use it.”