Liverpool survived a Manchester City onslaught to reach the Champions League semi-finals on a controversial night at the Etihad Stadium that saw Pep Guardiola sent off.
Second-half goals from Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino killed off any hopes of a City fightback after an early Gabriel Jesus strike, securing a 2-1 victory and a 5-1 aggregate success in a compelling quarter-final.
Premier League leaders City completely dominated the first half as they attempted to salvage the tie after last week’s 3-0 loss at Anfield.
Tweet of the match
Here’s Salah’s oh so important goal. Clever little bugger. pic.twitter.com/i6u3EO8PlM
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) April 10, 2018
It takes a goalscorer to know a goalscorer and Gary Lineker was full of admiration for Mohamed Salah’s crucial away goal for Liverpool against Manchester City.
Star man – Virgil van Dijk
View from the bench
Pep Guardiola has been sent to the stands for the second half after clashing (again) with referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz… pic.twitter.com/3ywfaQOP7x
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 10, 2018
Pep Guardiola’s argument with referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz at the half-time whistle, marching onto the pitch to both pull his players away from the official and then remonstrate himself, left his side without guidance for the second half after he was sent to the stand. It left Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to boss the technical area and, without Guardiola calling the shots and urging on his players, City failed to reach their heights of the first half.
Ref watch
Player ratings
Manchester City: Ederson 7; Kyle Walker 7; Nicolas Otamendi 6; Aymeric Laporte 6; Fernandinho 6; Raheem Sterling 7; David Silva 7; Kevin De Bruyne 7; Leroy Sane 6; Bernardo Silva 7; Gabriel Jesus 6. Substitutes: Sergio Aguero (for Silva, 66) 6; Ilkay Gundogan (for Bernardo Silva, 74) 6.
Liverpool: Loris Karius 6; Trent Alexander-Arnold 7; Dejan Lovren 6; Virgil van Dijk 8; Andrew Robertson 6; James Milner 7; Georginio Wijnaldum ;7 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 6; Mohamed Salah 7; Roberto Firmino 6; Sadio Mane 6. Substitutes: Ragnar Klavan (for Firmino, 81) 5; Nathaniel Clyne (for Alexander-Arnold, 81) 5; Danny Ings (for Salah, 89) 5.
Who’s up next?
Tottenham v Manchester City (Premier League, Saturday, April 14)
Liverpool v Bournemouth (Premier League, Saturday, April 14)
