The Reds came into this game with unbeaten record this season, but after a confident start, went behind in the 21st minute as Stephen Ireland found the target. Mark Hughes’ side doubled their lead in the 41st minute through Javier Garrido.
A fine comeback in the second half saw Fernando Torres scoring a brace, before Dirk Kuyt won it for the visitors in the injury time to boost Liverpool’s title credentials.
It was Rafa Benitez’s side who had the early attacks going with Joe Hart called to make a save from Albert Riera. At the other end, Robinho’s attempt proved too comfortable for Pepe Reina to be troubled before Kuyt skied his shot from 10 yards to waste another good chance for the Merseysiders.
The home side, however, took their chance and went into the lead when Ireland fired a sharp volley into the net after poor defending by Alvaro Arbeloa off Shaun Wright-Phillips’ cross.
Jolted by the goal, the Reds went in search of the equaliser but again failed to latch onto an opportunity as Riera’s cross sped across the face of the goal with Kuyt unable to make contact from the six-yard box only to find themselves further in deficit soon after.
Full-back Garrido curled a 22-yard free-kick into the top corner to double the advantage for the Eastlands club with four minutes left before the half-time whistle.
The Reds came out with a fierce determination to get back into the game and the sustained pressure paid dividends as Torres found the target, bundling the ball home from close in the 55th minute after Steven Gerrard and Arbeloa combined on the right wing.
A fascinating spell of play marked the next 10 minutes or so as the Reds pressed on in search of the leveller and winning most of the midfield battle, but were also lucky when on a counter-attack Wright-Phillips drove an incisive City attack and getting past the rivals, he sent in an adroit low cross across the face of the goal only to see Robinho skying his effort with only Reina to beat.
City were jolted when Pablo Zabaleta was shown a straight red card by referee Peter Walton for serious foul play as the Argentine right-back went into a lunging challenge on Xabi Alonso in the 67th minute.
It did not take long for the Reds to get back on the level terms with, once again, Torres delivering the goods. The Spain ace, who had also scored a double in the Merseyside derby win at Everton last weekend, headed home in the 73rd minute glancing a Gerrard corner-kick past Hart.
Torres missed an open chance from three yards in the 82nd minute after Gerrard had sent a delightfully disguised through ball for Dossena to cross to the red-hot Spanish ace, who took the chance on half-volley, but sending the ball over the bar.
City also showed fight to go for the winner with Wright-Phillips and substitute Evans looking for a late goal. Hughes showed the intent with an attacking change bringing in Martin Petrov in the closing stages to replace a tired Elano.
Reds centre-back Martin Skrtel suffered a seemingly serious injury as he fell awkwardly in the aerial duel with Evans, and with Benitez having used all three substitutes, the last remaining minutes saw the visitors reduced to 10 men against the home side, who were a man short following Zabaleta sending off.
Kuyt got the winning goal to keep the Reds’ unbeaten record this season alive and took his chance with great glee in the injury time as he ended his long goal drought in the league, after Torres’ shot was deflected into the Dutchman’s path by Dunne.
Teams:
Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Dunne, Richards, Garrido, Kompany, Ireland, Elano (Petrov 86), Wright-Phillips, Robinho (Evans 81), Jo (Fernandes 71).
Substitutes not used: Schmeichel, Ben-Haim, Hamann, Sturridge.
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio (Dossena 71), Mascherano (Keane 71), Gerrard, Riera (Benayoun 81), Kuyt, Alonso, Torres.
Substitutes not used: Cavalieri, Agger, Babel, Lucas.
refer : http://www.premiershiplatest.com
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