Erling Haaland’s stoppage-time penalty seals a dramatic 2-1 win towards Liverpool. Picture: AFP
LONDON:
Erling Haaland’s stoppage-time penalty earned Manchester Metropolis a dramatic 2-1 win at Liverpool on Sunday to cut back Arsenal’s lead on the high of the Premier League again to 6 factors.
Metropolis have been heading for defeat at Anfield with six minutes to go earlier than Bernardo Silva cancelled out Dominik Szoboszlai’s gorgeous free-kick to spark an unimaginable finale.
Haaland put Metropolis in entrance from the spot earlier than the guests had one other purpose dominated out and Szoboszlai was despatched off in the identical incident after a VAR overview.
Victory was Metropolis’s first away to Liverpool in entrance of a crowd since 2003 and reapplies some strain to Arsenal’s quest for a primary title in 22 years.
“I really feel the entire crew knew earlier than the sport, if we misplaced it then the title race was most likely over,” mentioned Silva. “We felt like we would have liked to win.”
Defeat delivered one other blow to Liverpool’s hopes of Champions League soccer subsequent season.
The defending champions stay down in sixth and 4 factors adrift of the highest 5.
These two golf equipment have mixed to win the final eight Premier League titles, however each confirmed the issues which have opened the door for Arsenal to doubtlessly finish their lengthy wait to be topped champions of England as soon as once more.
Haaland has scored simply as soon as from open play in his final 13 video games and an uncharacteristic insecurity from the Norwegian confirmed with the most effective probability of the primary half contained in the opening two minutes.
Silva’s intelligent move break up the Liverpool defence, however Haaland’s shot lacked conviction beneath strain from Milos Kerkez, and Alisson Becker was capable of save low to his left.
Guehi booed
Second half slumps have been a constant characteristic of Metropolis’s season and the guests once more pale within the second interval till a late flurry saved their title problem.
“Within the second half we pressed actually excessive and performed good soccer,” mentioned Liverpool boss Arne Slot. “We’ve improved a lot, however we have to enhance the outcomes.”
Marc Guehi was relentlessly booed after his proposed transfer to Liverpool from Crystal Palace broke down on switch deadline day in September.
Metropolis took benefit to swoop in final month once they misplaced two key centre-backs to harm.
Guehi was lucky to flee with only a yellow card when he dragged down Mo Salah simply exterior the field in a call that infuriated Slot.
But it surely was Metropolis who have been left fuming on the award of the free-kick which led to the opener when Ryan Gravenberch went down beneath minimal contact.
Szoboszlai scored the one purpose with an outrageous free-kick when Arsenal visited Anfield in August and produced one other gorgeous strike which clipped the within of the publish earlier than discovering the web.
Nonetheless, the Hungarian went from hero to villain when Metropolis levelled six minutes from time.
Szoboszlai performed Silva onside as he slid in to volley dwelling Haaland’s header for Metropolis’s first second-half purpose within the Premier League this 12 months.
Alisson then worn out Matheus Nunes to concede a penalty and Haaland stored his cool from the spot to place Metropolis in entrance.
Pep Guardiola’s males then wanted a shocking save from Gianluigi Donnarumma to tip behind Alexis Mac Allister’s deflected shot.
With Alisson remaining ahead from the ensuing nook, the Liverpool purpose was open when Rayan Cherki took goal from the midway line to roll the ball into an empty internet.
Nonetheless, Haaland and Szoboszlai’s grappling because the ball trickled in the direction of the purpose noticed the strike dominated out, with a free-kick awarded to Metropolis as an alternative, and the Liverpool participant given his marching orders.
