Manchester City v Liverpool Live Commentary & Result, 10/04/2018, UEFA Champions League

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And that was all the encouragement Liverpool needed. Mohamed Sarah was the first on the scoresheet with a delicate dink before, in the closing stages, Roberto Firmino took advantage of Nicolas Otamendi’s slip.

Gabriel Jesus’ early strike seemed to have set City up for a remarkable comeback, but - after Pep Guardiola was sent to the stands for complaining that a second City goal was incorrectly, disallowed - the hosts never recaptured their spark in the second half.

FULL TIME! Manchester City are out of the Champions League, and it’s Liverpool who book their place in the semi-finals!

91' Liverpool are simply winding down the clock, now. They're moments away...

D. Ings

Mohamed Salah

90' Mohamed Salah is off, and gets a great reception from the Liverpool fans. Danny Ings is on in his place.

86' This will be Liverpool’s 18th European semi-final, and their 10th in the Champions League. It looks as though Roma, who are currently beating Barcelona, will be joining them.

85' This feat from Liverpool cannot be underestimated, however. They have rode their luck at times, and City - over the tie - have had several perfectly-good goals ruled out, but overall, the Reds are deserving winners, and the 5-1 aggregate scoreline certainly reflects this.

82' Another goal disallowed for City! And again, it could have easily gone the other way. Sane looked to have timed his run perfectly before setting up Gundogan for an easy finish, but the linesman’s flag was up.

N. Clyne

T. Alexander-Arnold

81' A Liverpool substitution sees Trent Alexander-Arnold make way for Nathaniel Clyne.

R. Klavan

Roberto Firmino

81' Substitution Roberto Firmino Barbosa de Oliveira Ragnar Klavan

81' STAT - Roberto Firmino has now also netted eight goals in a single Champions League/European Cup campaign for Liverpool – equalling Mohamed Salah.

80' City simply needed that second goal prior to the interval, and will point to the fact that they did, indeed, get one - only for it to be ruled out. But Liverpool defended brilliantly, and their attacking prowess has come to the fore in the second half.

Roberto Firmino

Goal

77' GOOOOAAAALLLL!!! GAME OVER! That's it for City - as Otamendi's error allows Firmino to race through on goal and slot a precise finish across Ederson.

75' Sane teases a cross to the back post, but Aguero can't direct his header on target.

İ. Gündoğan

Bernardo Silva

74' A second change for City. Bernardo Silva makes way for Ilkay Gundogan.

73' STAT - Mohamed Salah has been directly involved in 50 goals in all competitions this season (39 goals, 11 assists), 11 more than any other Premier League player.

71' CLOSE! Laporte tries his luck, and his strike takes a wicked deflection off Lovren, looping just wide.

70' Great work from Milner, who has been superb for Liverpool this evening. After initially getting outdone by De Bruyne, the midfielder recovers in time to make a superb block from the Belgian’s strike.

69' City are working it wide and getting deliveries into the box, but nobody is making the runs to get on the end of them. It’s all tumbling down after such a strong start, and Liverpool look comfortable.

S. Agüero

David Silva

66' Here is that change. Sergio Aguero is on, having replaced David Silva.

V. van Dijk

Yellow Card

65' A booking now for Van Dijk, who lunged in on Sterling and then prevented the City winger getting back to his feet. It seemed harsh.

64' Another tight - although this one is correct - offside call, this time on Sane. Meanwhile, Aguero looks to be readying himself on the touchline.

62' Guardiola has to make some changes now, surely, with his City side seemingly having run out of ideas, and Liverpool are looking sharp on the counter.

61' STAT - Mohamed Salah has now scored more goals in a single Champions League/European Cup campaign for Liverpool (8) than any other player in the club’s history.

60' There’s plenty of attacking talent on the bench for Guardiola to call upon, but that Salah goal has clearly taken the wind out of the hosts’ sails.

59' City could well have run out of ideas here! The Liverpool fans are in raptures in the away end following Salah’s brilliant finish, and City now have to score three to even draw level in this one.

Mohamed Salah

Goal

56' GOOOOAAAAAALLLL!!! THAT COULD BE GAME OVER! Well, from Firmino getting away with the foul, Liverpool suddenly turn on the style and that man Mohamed Salah is the one who gets the goal that could well end this tie! Wijnaldum did well to work it into Mane and, even though Ederson made a save, Salah picked up the scraps to loft a sublme finish into the far corner.

54' LUCKY! That is fortunate for Liverpool! De Bruyne charges right through the heart of the Reds’ midfield and draws a clear foul from Firmino, who somehow escapes without conceding a free-kick. The Brazilian has been booked already, remember.

52' Guardiola will certainly be a big miss on the touchline, but City somehow need to find a way to carve through this resolute Liverpool rearguard. They still need three goals, without reply, to win this one.

50' City haven’t come out with the spark they had in the first half, and seem to be just easing their way back into this one. As I type, David Silva lofts a precise cross to Sane, who does well to head it across goal, but Lovren is on hand to clear.

47' As good as City have been, Liverpool have worked extremely hard to limit their attempts on goal, with Karius only called into action a few times following Jesus’ early opener.

46' We’re back underway at the Etihad! There’s no Pep Guardiola on the sidelines, so he has appeared to have been sent to the stands, for his complaints regarding a goal that should have been allowed. City may feel hard done by, but still have a job to do against this gritty and determined Liverpool side.

Well, this game has just got even more extraordinary, with Guardiola seemingly having been sent to the stands for his complaints to the referee at the end of the first half.

Gabriel Jesus gave City the ideal start, and the hosts have been in control of this one since then. That being said, Liverpool have defended valiantly, although are fortunate that City’s final ball has, at times, let Guardiola’s side down.

Guardiola is clearly livid with referee Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz, although it is not clear why. City’s disallowed goal may have something to do with it…

HALF TIME! City lead 1-0 at the interval.

45' MISS! Much better by Liverpool! Salah and Oxlade-Chamberlain combine, with the latter then charging into the area and rounding Ederson, only to blast his effort over.

43' UNLUCKY! A poor punch by Karius deflects back towards goal off Milner. Sane and Oxlade-Chamberlain both go for it, and a combination of both turn it in. However, the goal is ruled out for offside.

42' SO CLOSE! Bernardo Silva again finds plenty of space down the right and proceeds to hammer a shot goalwards. Karius is beaten, but it clatters away off the post - thanks to a deflection by Lovren.

41' Oxlade-Chamberlain scored a superb goal in the first leg, though he can’t get enough power on this one to beat Ederson.

40' Despite City’s domination, Liverpool are defending excellently. The Reds’ front three finally manages to combine on the counter, only for Salah to deliver a really poor cross that is easily cut out.

39' CLOSE! After great defending from Fernandinho at one end, De Bruyne picks out Bernardo Silva with a pinpoint pass. Following an exquisite first touch, the former Monaco playmaker gets a shot off, and it takes a deflection which sends it just wide.

37' David Silva gets free down the left side of the area and slides a terrific cut-back across the face of goal, but Jesus had overran it!

Roberto Firmino

Yellow Card

35' A first chance for Liverpool to get forward, but it only results in De Bruyne leading another counter-attack before he is brought down by Firmino, who goes into the book.

33' Reckless again from Robertson, who once more tussles with Sterling in the Liverpool box. He gets away with it, though.

31' Risky play from Robertson, who seems to nudge Sterling in the back as they challenge for a ball in the Liverpool area. A penalty would have been soft, but there no need for that challenge.

Bernardo Silva

Yellow Card

30' CHANCE! Superb goalkeeping by Karius, who manages to tip away David Silva’s wicked delivery. Bernardo Silva is on hand to pick up the loose ball and hammer an effort goal wards, but it is blocked by Milner, and the Portuguese is then booked after claiming it hit the former City man’s arm.

T. Alexander-Arnold

Yellow Card

29' That’s a booking for Alexander-Arnold, who had no choice but to force Sane down after the Germany winger had skipped around him. Liverpool’s youngster is walking a tight-rope now!

29' STAT - The Reds are unbeaten in their last five Champions League away games. They last went six without defeat on the road in the competition between March-December 2005, during which time they won the trophy.

28' Another well-worked move from City sees Bernardo Silva find De Bruyne, but his strike is well-saved by Karius. Moments later, Sane dribbles his way around three Liverpool defenders, only for Milner to come across with a fantastic tackle.

26' Seemingly in an attempt to stem some of City’s attacks, Salah has now switched flanks. Liverpool’s front three must work with their midfield to force City’s playmakers off the ball, although that is of course easier said than done given the array of attacking talent City have available.

24' For once, David Silva picks a poor pass, and underhits a ball into Sane when City looked set to break down Liverpool’s defence once more. The visitors attempt to counter, but Ederson is out quickly to smother it.

22' Composed defending from Robertson, who does well to prevent David Silva getting on the end of a lofted pass from deep, winning the goal-kick in the process.

20' Sterling gets in behind and looks to feed Jesus, but he can’t quite turn his effort on target. Next, Sane whips in a cross-cum-shot, and Karius does well to tip it away.

18' Guardiola’s system, and how the City players are slotting into it, is an incredible thing to behold, and Liverpool’s midfield are working incredibly hard to press their hosts back. The Reds have more than enough firepower on the break, but they are well on the back foot at the moment.

17' De Bruyne goes short from the free-kick, and Sane meets it, but his rather tame shot deflects wide. City go short again from the resulting corner, but David Silva is caught offside.

16' Clever play from Sterling, who wins a free-kick right on the edge of Liverpool’s area, but out to the right, after he drew a clumsy foul from Lovren.

Ederson Moraes

Yellow Card

14' Ederson, too, picks up a booking, after he ran out to confront Liverpool’s forward.

S. Mané

Yellow Card

14' A double booking now, after Mane slid in on Otamendi and catches the Argentine with his knee. The crowd reacted badly, given it was Mane who picked up a red card in the league fixture here earlier in the season, but a yellow card was the correct call.

12' City’s full-throttle attacking formation is of course leaving space for Liverpool, but so far Bernardo Silva and De Bruyne are working hard to help Fernandinho.

11' Alexander-Arnold delivers a brilliant cross towards the back post, but no Liverpool attacker can get their head onto it. Lovren attempts to keep it in play, but Walker is on hand to steward him out.

10' STAT - Only Sergio Aguero has been directly involved in more goals in all comps this season for Man City than Raheem Sterling (31 - 21 goals, 10 assists).

9' Sane tees up David Silva with a wonderful flick, but the playmaker can’t work it into the area, so instead picks out De Bruyne. The Belgian goes for goal from 20 yards out, but his effort sails over.

7' This has been a whirlwind start, and now Liverpool will look to settle by exploiting the space down CIty’s flanks. The hosts recover quickly however, and are now back in possession.

4' STAT - Only two teams in Champions League history have overturned a three plus goal deficit from the first leg in the knockout stages – Deportivo vs Milan in 2003-04 and Barcelona vs Paris Saint-Germain last season.

R. Sterling

Assist

2' That was lightning from City - and Sterling was key to it. The winger didn’t start at Anfield last week, but was the instigator there with a tackle on Van Dijk, and was then on hand to supply the assist.

Gabriel Jesus

Goal

2' GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!!!! CITY TAKE THE LEAD! Incredible! Well, they needed a fast start, and City have got one! Sterling presses Van Dijk, who concedes a sloppy ball straight into the middle. Fernandinho sets Sterling away down the right, who in turn squares it to Jesus, and the striker keeps his cool to slot home.

2' An early opportunity for De Bruyne to get the ball in after he is scythed down by Mane… The Belgian delivers a wicked free-kick, but Oxlade-Chamberlain manages to hook it clear.

1' KICK-OFF! City get this one up and running!

The atmosphere is crackling as both sides make their way out onto the pitch. We should be in for quite some game!

In comparison to his counterpart, it’s a much more conservative selection from Klopp, who rested several of his key players against Everton. Salah has been passed fit to start and returns in place of Danny Ings, while Dominic Solanke drops out for Roberto Firmino. Jordan Henderson is suspended, so Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain comes in. Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold were superb at Anfield last week, and both return to Liverpool’s defence.

Liverpool substitutes: Clyne, Klavan, Moreno, Mignolet, Ings, Solanke, Woodburn.

Liverpool (4-3-3): Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Milner, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane.

Danilo, Vincent Kompany, Ilkay Gundogan and Fabian Delph drop out, with Kyle Walker, Aymeric Laporte, Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus returning. Guardiola seems to be starting with a three-man defence - Fernandinho tasked with a holding role behind De Bruyne, David Silva and Bernardo Silva, who will look to supply the firepower for Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Jesus.

A brave selection from Guardiola, who has gone all out attack in an attempt to get City back into this contest early in the tie.

Manchester City substitutes: Bravo, Kompany, Gundogan, Aguero, Delph, Zinchenko, Foden.

Manchester City (3-2-4-1): Ederson; Walker, Otamendi, Laporte; Fernandinho, De Bruyne; Sterling, Bernardo Silva, David Silva, Sane; Gabriel Jesus.

Team news is in from the Etihad. We’ll start off with City…

City will now have to wait to confirm their domestic dominance, but in the meantime Guardiola must rally his troops for what would be a remarkable comeback, should they pull it off. And although Liverpool had some injury concerns over top-scorer Salah heading into this clash, Klopp will know that one away goal - which his side are more than capable of getting - will all-but secure progression into the last four.

While Liverpool followed up their triumph with a somewhat disjointed showing in a tepid Merseyside derby, Manchester City were once again at the heart of the drama, as Pep Guardiola’s side threw away a two-goal lead to ultimately lose 3-2 to arch rivals Manchester United, missing out on the chance to crown themselves Premier League champions in the process.

The Reds come into tonight’s showdown at the Etihad with a 3-0 aggregate lead following a barnstorming performance at Anfield last week – first-half goals from Mohamed Salah, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sadio Mane doing the damage for Jurgen Klopp’s men, who are on the verge of securing their first Champions League semi-final place in 10 years.

Hello and welcome, football fans, to LIVE coverage of the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final clash between Manchester City and Liverpool!

Manchester City v Liverpool Live Commentary, 10/04/2018

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