Haaland scores stoppage-time penalty in EPIC clash between City and Liverpool | VAR controversy as City third ruled out

20:50Daniel Sturridge:Let me go and have a wander over there for five minutes. Let me see if I can cause this guy a problem. Because I do feel that psychologically he has a lot of respect for Virgil. You can see the way they're playing against each other. They shook hands at halftime and you're sort of thinking they have a lot of respect for each other. And I think sometimes you want to see a different picture. And he was seeing the same picture for the majority of the game. Staying on Virgil's side, whether the manager told him to do that, that's potential that he did. But give the team another picture. Give the opposition another the problem.

21:17Daniel Sturridge:And I think the one time he did it, he wins a header and there's a goal. It was the only time, just had it confirmed, the only time he had contested an aerial duel with Canate in the entire game. And Jamie was saying that the deflection didn't help Canate out at all. What about the penalty? It's a stoppage time, Jamie. Listen, you just cannot believe a goalkeeper of that quality makes that decision there. I mean, it's not like he's not going to be able to cross the ball. It's actually too far ahead of him. All he could probably do there is knock it out for a goal kick. Nunes really and he's just made a crazy decision as we see goalkeepers make that mistake and when you're at this wide angle sorry Jamie the ball is still in play when the foul is committed which they've told us is relevant to the award of the spot kick it's just madness to find himself make that decision he doesn't make too many listen what a goalkeeper he's been but obviously it was a huge mistake but I think it's one of them with the goalkeepers sometimes I know he's an experienced goalkeeper they get bored sometimes even in a big game you said to keepers mind your own business.

22:18That had almost nothing to do with him. He almost went looking for trouble. Crazy decision for an experienced goal. If a young goalkeeper had done that, you'd be saying, all right, lack of experience or whatever, and naive to do that. Especially when Nunes' touch is taking it away from goal as well. Just slow himself down. So then we had a two and a half minute wait while there was treatment going on, while everyone in the stadium is thinking, what is going to happen here? So Bozlai is trying to get in Haaland's ear as we didn't know if he was definitely going to take it, Daniel. you weren't sure if it was going to be Haaland's kick here or not.

22:49Yeah, I mean, today's time, you usually see someone else holding the ball for the penalty taker,

22:53Daniel Sturridge:so they take all the banter. Strangely, might this have actually relaxed him, because he's a friend of his, really, just having a bit of chat and a banter with. Having a good laugh, having a good joke here. He's trying to throw a little banter to him, stuff that can throw him off. But as you can see from what Haaland said in his interview and in this moment, totally locked in on what I have to do technique-wise. What a huge moment. Yeah, it was driven low. Those ones, when you're that tall as a goalkeeper, keeping it low, powerful, side foot goalie conviction, executed perfectly. It's the firmness of the strike, Micah, in that moment.

23:23Daniel Sturridge:This is just brilliant. I mean, Jamie's talked about Haaland. I didn't think he had the greatest of game as well, but in terms of moments, I mean, he did to step up in the big moments. That's why he gets the big books. That's why he's Haaland. That's why he scores so many goals. He doesn't have to play well, and he can still get it over the line, and that's the difference. He had to take that penalty. He didn't take that penalty, we said. one of the best strikers in the world, best finishers big moment for a club, big moment for him take responsibility, which he did incredible moment for him, his first year at Anfield as well for Manchester City, but still the drama was not done, could Liverpool respond?

23:59Well they could and that's when Manchester City needed their goalkeeper Roy. Yep, yep listen he's a vastly experienced big goalkeeper yeah he's made one or two mistakes but gets maybe slight deflection we had a great view on this, it looked like it was destined for the top corner And it gets a deflection. It gets a deflection. But I suppose I'm going to say that's his job, isn't it? He's a big man. He's got big arms. He's made one or two big sales, as we know. But he's made one or two mistakes over the last few months. But, again, huge moment. You can see by the reaction.

24:38Great shot. Let's see. It's worth seeing again. Because it might well be a pivotal race. when we get to the end of the pivotal moment, Jamie, when we get to the end of the season? Well, listen, at the start of the season, I didn't think there was any way Manchester City could win the league because of the goalkeeping situation. No one wins a Premier League without an absolutely great goalkeeper. And there's no doubt this needs a Champions League winner, what he's done in his career with Italy, winning the Euros. You know, yeah, they've got a goalkeeper you can win the league with. Before they signed him, there was no way City could win the league without signing someone of that calibre.

25:11Brilliant performance. at the perfect moment for Manchester City as well. But we still weren't done with the drama because then Manchester City are going on the break because Alisson has decided he's going to maybe score the equalising goal, having conceded the penalty. So there he is, the man in green. Cherky from his own half actually thinks he might have scored here. But watch the tussle between Haaland and Zboslai. This is amazing, wasn't it? So the officials are saying they have no choice on this. You see the foul from Zboslai on Haaland outside the box. but then Haaland returns the favour by pulling back Suboslay, which cancels out the advantage, so they say they have no choice but to go back to the first infringement, which is Suboslay here on Haaland going through to score, and that is denial of a goal-scoring opportunity.

25:57And it's just such a shame, isn't it, because it was a moment that nobody really wanted. No, but I think, you know, referees get a lot of stake in VAR,

26:06Daniel Sturridge:but they've applied the law. So what they're supposed to do, we want to see another goal from Cherki, of course we do. But he's tugged him, so it is the right decision, no matter where you look at it. I mean, we want to see Sheiky get that goal. I actually think Sheiky could hold on a little bit more and then pass to Haaland. I think that was the initial problem. But then, you know, so Bozla, is it going to be three games? Well, I think normally our information is it's one. Denial of a goal-scoring opportunity is normally one. So that is our information right now. So that would be the Sunday game that Jamie was talking about midweek.

26:37It was great. It just added to the drama at the end of it. and obviously had no effect on the result.

26:43Daniel Sturridge:If I'm Cherky, I'm fuming. But listen, I go back to it. It's a stupid decision, I suppose. For me, you just let it carry on and the goal goes in. I don't think anyone's complaining, but it's absolutely daft from him. Because he's got time to think as well. He's running back. Does the goalkeeper have to be up there, James? This is what Harlan throws it full-time as well. Cherky not passing him.

27:06Why did Cherky not pass him? Run after him.

27:09Daniel Sturridge:Run after him. Go film him. Got food all the time. Go film him. Go film him. Come on. He's there. Why did not Cherky pass to me? Well, there you go. Mike is right, isn't he? He had a quiet game because of the impact of the battle he was having with Virgil van Dijk. But he comes up with a key assist and the winning goal. Big game. And as we know, the top players certainly, it's just about moment. And sometimes you've got a goal and an assist, and they'd be satisfied, because that obviously affected the game and the result and the goals involved. And, yeah, I'd have a... Haaland's had tough times here, and he's had tough times against Van Dijk, but he stuck at it and produced magic at the end.

27:52That's all you can ask for. Let's get some Liverpool reaction now. We can hear from Virgil van Dijk with Patrick Davison. Well, Virgil, obviously tough to take at the end there. How did you see it across the 90 minutes? First off, I think they were much more comfortable on the ball. We were obviously trying to be more direct, trying to put the problem on their half. Because obviously we knew that they were trying to, not trying, they were going sort of with a press that they look together to our right side and go from there.

28:31And I think we weren't good enough in the first half. second half I think we were much better much more dominance on the ball as well at times and obviously score a worldie of a free kick and I think then obviously they will come out, press more than they even do and score an equaliser and I think between the equaliser and the penalty moment I think both teams trying to in my opinion right now by the way, maybe others have a different opinion but I try to go for the winner and the penalty moment decides the game. That's the feeling I'm having. Second half, particularly after you go in front, did you feel in more or less complete control?

29:19You're never in complete control against City, and especially when City is 1-0 down, they will come and pressure you even more, they get stops on, they make more runs. If you see how they play, Obviously they play with sort of a 4-4-2 with a diamond in the middle, so you have to communicate well. When Zemanjou is coming in the middle, if Milos has to follow, midfield has to take him. So it's like you're never comfortable and you always have to be on your toes, I think. Like I said, my feeling at the moment, and maybe I'm wrong, is that after the equaliser, we were both trying everything to try and score the winner.

30:02There was obviously a lot of situations and decisions that happened today that obviously decided eventually the game as well. So you're talking about refereeing decisions there? No, obviously just in general, I think, moments in the game. Yeah, so that's what I mean. So no complaints particularly. There are, as it seems to be pretty much every game, big decisions in the match. Gehi pulling back Salah perhaps you can see a different decision what would have been the third goal would be another one the penalty would be another yeah obviously we have no influence on that I think the penalty with Nunes I think yeah he could have given it it went so fast but yeah you know we have only ourselves to blame and we have to quickly turn our attention to Sunderland because that's going to be a very tough one, a hell of a job.

30:58A team that's obviously unbeaten at home this season. Good challenge ahead of us. Do you still feel, despite the result, perhaps it's difficult at this moment when you're still gutted, that performance-wise this was another step forward? Do you feel like still you are in a better place than you were? I'm not sure. It's still a process. I've mentioned it many times. I think second half felt maybe a little bit like a step up in the first half. We were still not fully in control and could have done better. Should have done better. But obviously you go on half-time still 0-0. You speak with each other.

31:39Come out much better in the second half. One-0 up. And then it's obviously a different game and you have to handle that as well. And like I said, unfortunately today the penalty moment was the deciding moment. And yeah, that's the reality. Thank you. You're welcome. Jamie, what do you think? Did Liverpool's performance deserve more today? I think Man City were by far the better team first half. I think Liverpool had a spell in the second half. I think for probably 20, 25 minutes where they looked like they had Man City on the rack. I don't think Liverpool deserved to win. Maybe he could argue a draw would have been maybe a fair result What do you think they would reflect on that's cost them?

32:28Big mistakes again and that's the fourth time now this season they've conceded a 90th minute winner so it's not it's not a one-off it happens all the time and I'd be interested to see what the manager says but the manager's taken a lot of criticism from Liverpool supporters this season and some of it warranted but if you notice we're almost in we're in the third stage of Liverpool this season so at the start of the season Liverpool games were like that and it was end to end and they were being very lucky and they were winning in the last minute and then they had the thing where the manager thought this has to stop we're in a spell of losing nine games in 12 I think it was and then he went more defensive more pragmatic the most solid thing blows up and then Liverpool start getting results not winning a lot of games but not losing too many but it's boring they're coming to Anfield no one's getting excited so there's criticism on the back of that now we've come back sort of the last few weeks let's say since Mo Salah's come back from the African Nations Liverpool have played a front four and that was my worry today now that was a great game if you're at Rome as a neutral you've thought what a game that was but you see the same against Newcastle you see the same against Bournemouth away great for the neutral lost two out of three so the manager's going to have a decision to make again and I'm not just talking about Mo Salah but I'm talking about to front four I thought today the way to go probably wouldn't even put them I'm not just saying this after the event I said this before the game but maybe putting Vier to the left maybe playing Curtis Jones I think if Liverpool continue the way they are with a front four and games end to end I just don't see how they can make the Champions League positions at all but no matter what he does the make up of this squad the balance of the team and the squad is not right so it never looks stable they never look in control even if the game's exciting you never feel in control even when the game's are slow and pragmatic.

34:18It never feels like you're fully in control as well. So yeah, I think there's a long road ahead for Liverpool to make the Champions League positions. As Jamie says, Daniel, there was a period in that second half where Manchester City were very much on the back foot. Is there an argument that actually, that maybe perhaps Arna Slaught might make, that if one or two of these chances go for Ekotike or Florian Verts, then it might have been a very different story.

34:41Daniel Sturridge:I think the problem for Liverpool is not creating chances, it's scoring the chances. they create and conceding chances from the opposition. You know, for a player of these guys' qualities, there's a lot of top players out here, guys who we know what they're capable of. You know, these are the chances, a guy full of confidence like a Tiki, you'd expect him to at least target there. But I think all in all, they'll be very disappointed. You know, Jamie made a great point about there being a front four. You could argue that, yeah, as you say, these chances go in it's a very very different game and we talk about the positives of it all but i think it's okay if you're going to be attacking but then outscore the opposition and that's i know it's a simple thing to say but that's one of the things that you have to do if you're going to go more attacking ensure that you're taking your opportunities and these images show you a team that it seems as if sometimes they're incredible in front of goal very decisive brilliant and other games.

35:42Daniel Sturridge:There are big chances out there. When you look, there are big chances they're creating. And that would have been a madness from the goalkeeper at the end. Obviously, eight league losses so far this season is not good enough. But when your goalkeeper comes up and there's a bit of madness towards the end, that doesn't help. And last year, Liverpool won a lot of games by the odd goal, wasn't it? So maybe last year, I'm not taking away from winning the title last year. They weren't as good as we all thought. And now at this moment in time, you've got senior players making big mistakes. Obviously, it's going to cost you.

36:07That tells a little bit of a story, doesn't it? Second for shots conversion, but I think you, if I'm right, Roy, you were saying at half-time that this is the approach that you wanted to see from Liverpool, a little bit end-to-end. Yeah, just from the game today, from what I saw today, because City obviously had an attack in front three, and there's still signs you'd never be writing City off for Pep. But is it the right approach if it doesn't bring you results? No, obviously not. Obviously, you'd have to tweak it, and James made the point here, where if Liverpool are in this week in, week out, you're going, well, hold on a second.

36:32But when Liverpool are the champions, and I've been critical of them, Man City come to town, and Man City are a bit off it, particularly away from home, they're thinking yeah yeah kind of get your best players on the pitch and if Liverpool were clinical today they would have won the game so we know football's fine margins they had chances and then a bit of madness at the end so from my attitude looking at Liverpool today I'm thinking yeah you're a big club you had a go at them you went it's like two heavyweights having to go at each other they came off the wrong end of it but overall yeah you can't be doing that week in week out because obviously you're going to come unstuck but they did create loads of chances and they weren't clinical enough

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38:04WSL fans, check out Pitch to Pod with Jordan Nobbs and Nikita Paris. Just search for Sky Sports wherever you get your podcasts. For now, though, let's get back to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast.

38:24The most extraordinary game we have seen here at Anfield this afternoon. Dominic Suboslai's incredible strike from the free kick. Bernardo Silva with the equaliser, 10 minutes from time. And then the stoppage time penalty winner from Erling Haaland. An incredible save from Donnarumma. And then the goal that was denied. Cherki from inside his own half. And the red card for Dominic Samoslai. Cue delight for Manchester City, led by the match winner Erling Haaland. City completing the league double over Liverpool for the first time since 1936-37. Let's hear from the Liverpool boss now. Arna Slott is with Patrick Davison.

39:08Well, Arna, obviously heartbreak at the end. How would you assess what you've seen? Another great Liverpool-Man City game, as we've seen so many times over the last few years. And this was, again, one of them. but for us, of course, a very disappointing outcome with a 2-1 loss. What did you make of your performance? A start first half, would you agree they had the better of the opening 45 minutes? Yeah, they did. They were more comfortable in the ball than us. So they had the better than us, but that didn't lead to many big chances apart from in the first minute. I think Haaland was close to a goal.

39:49But I think in the second half it was completely the opposite. where I was waiting for our goal and when we got it I was waiting for the second. But in a moment, maybe one of the only moments when they were in and around our box in the second half, it was immediately a goal, unfortunately for us, because we defended well, we played well, especially second half. But yeah, we conceded a 1-1 and then just after that it was Curtis Jones who had the ball in the midfield, Mo Salah who made a deep run, I think it was a 4-3 situation, I don't know. if that ball goes through it's 3v1 to the goalkeeper but unfortunately Guay intercepted it and then we all saw what happened in extra time where we conceded a penalty So how did you change the flow of that game, second half, before obviously they then come back later on?

40:38No, we didn't, tactically we didn't even change that much but I think we put a lot of energy in in the first half to try to press them really high but they were very comfortable in the ball although we were a few times closer winning the ball back but But if the game goes on, you're always hoping that you can keep yourself the energy going. And if the other team then gets a bit tired, sometimes they start to make mistakes. And maybe that's what happened. And then our fans were completely behind us, as they've always been. And that combination led to a very, very, very good and impressive second half.

41:10But not the result we wanted. Do you have the sense at all that anything's gone against you unfairly today? So, I mean, the chuckle says yes. does it? We can talk about every incident and everybody has an opinion about this and that's the difficulty there are never in football 100-0 decisions there are always two or three people to find that have a different opinion the one I would if I have to talk about one moment I would like to talk about the one time Mo was through on goal and hold his shirt everyone who's been in the stadium for the past eight years knows that if Mo Salah comes in that situation it's a goal.

41:52So that is definitely a score scoring opportunity. So maybe that is a, I don't know, 80-21 maybe we can find 20 people probably from the, not the FA, from the PGMOL. Probably from there we can find 20 people who tell you that it's not a red card. But I think in general everybody looks at it will tell you that should have been a red card. And the other incidents are maybe a little bit more 50-50. today. How much did your bench hurt you today, if that's not unkind, on the guys who were there? You know, you obviously had the injuries. Were you not able to impact and affect the game quite as you would have liked?

42:30No, I'm not too sure because I don't think we needed to impact the game off the bench because we played so well. So, yeah, of course now with Dominic having a suspension and he's playing at fullback without him being a fullback, but he played really well, by the way. But, yeah, we have to accept that and find a solution for Wednesday when we face Sunderland. What did you make of the goals you conceded? Is preventable fair for both of them? Preventable? Preventable. Could have stopped them? Nah, every goal is a possibility to prevent them but sometimes there's quality on the other side and the margins are really small.

43:07The first one, like I said, deflection, had it in, Bernardo Silva anticipated really well. Ali was close to it but I think it went past him. I'm sure it went past him because it went in. And in the second goal, Ali tries to go for the ball. He's too late. Nunez has the ball, the ball is over the line, but then there's contact. Maybe there's 80-20, 80 people out of 100 say it's a penalty. Maybe even 100 out of 100, I don't know. I don't want to debate that decision. The one I would debate the most, if I may, then it's the one for Mau. Where do you think this leaves you in terms of your form, but also in terms of your fight for Champions League football?

43:50Looks like you've got a real scrap on your hands there. Yeah, of course, we know how the league table looks like. But we also know that there are a lot of games still to be played. And yeah, said to the players again that they showed today where they're capable of. And I definitely see progression. but we also know that there are not so many games left to be played, so there's not a lot of room for error or mistake for us left. And another time, in my opinion, we didn't got what we deserved, but yeah, I can keep saying it. People probably get annoyed or like, ah, there he is again. But yeah, I try to analyse the game as fair as possible, and that's what I'm trying to do now again.

44:36Thank you, Anna. You're welcome. Anna Slott there with Patrick Davison, and sounding like he's talking to him in a cloakroom of a nightclub. We can only presume that music is coming from the away dressing room. How do you think you would have reacted to that as a music manager? It'd be interesting if the music's on when Pep's doing his talk. You know, we're talking, man, they go there, they're entitled to enjoy themselves, but you also have to show a little bit of respect. Turn the bloody music down, yeah, when people are doing press interviews. Ridiculous. Certainly not me dancing to it. Let's have a look at the decision that he is talking about, Daniel.

45:08And the question, I suppose, is Mo Salah getting there before Gay's intervention, or is Ruben Diaz going to stop him getting in on goal? It's outside the box, we can say that.

45:19Daniel Sturridge:It's outside the box. He potentially does get there, but Ruben Diaz's position was also good. So, you know, I think he could have gotten across, but, you know, the action happens outside the box. So, you know, maybe he does have a clean shot, though. and to be honest, when you look at it, maybe he does have a clean shot. But, you know, I think it's one of those ones, when it's against you. This is the ruling, Jamie. Sorry to interrupt. I think we're just about to remind our viewers of what the actual wording is of this particular law. The considerations are the distance between the offence and the goal, general direction of the play, the likelihood of keeping or gaining control if he's not pulled back, and the location and the number of defenders.

46:08So we're not talking about penalty here. We're talking about whether, indeed, Gahey should have been sent off. And this was 0-0 at this point, we should say as well. Yeah.

46:19I think it was the right decision. It's one of them that frustrates you when it's for you, and I can totally understand slots. I think Pep Guardiola would probably say the same if it was on the other side. But he tugs him back. Now, you're almost trying to pitch yourself. Mo Salah would probably take another touch before he gets his shot away and then would Diaz come across and I just think there's probably enough doubt there to not, you know, give the red card for me, when the decision was given I thought it was just about right Certainly taking a big risk, isn't he, Mike?

46:46Daniel Sturridge:Yeah, taking a risk and he was an excellent game today but I think I agree with Jamie I think it's a yellow card I think it's one where Diaz is getting across I think the only one on the rule is gaining the ball. You know, that's the rule. But I think Diaz, especially, would be sprinting back when the ball goes ahead of him and a touch of Salah. I think Diaz would be there. Would you think Salah would need to take a touch? Salah gets the ball. Get his body. I'd be real. I think Salah would try and get his body round and just hit it first time. I think he gets the ball. The rules, if we're going off the rules, maybe there's a contradiction between maybe one and three and they go, oh, well, four supersedes one or four supersedes two.

47:28Daniel Sturridge:Because for me, if I actually, I think Salah gets the ball. Is it a yellow? Probably it is. But I think Salah does get the ball. And I guess you have to say that it does have a big impact on the game because of circumstances at that point, the situation at nil-nil. Yeah, I mean, the interesting thing is, and I go back to this, Mark Gay actually can see Salah and he leaves him to go ahead. Again, that goes back to this high line, City play. He's trying to catch him offside, really. Happens quite a lot. But Gay, I thought, was fantastic in the game. That was the only real blemish on him. but he made an interception in the second half that I actually think kept City in the game.

48:04I'm not sure it was. I think Verge tried to play Mo Salah through. Yeah, centrally, yeah. Did he? Suck a leg out, yeah. I think it was at 1-0. That was like Mo Salah was then, certainly running through on goal then. Yeah, listen, he played really well, and that's probably another thing Liverpool can look at, you know, get that teal over the line in there at the start of the season. Yeah, of course, a lot of Liverpool fans will be talking about that as well. The player who very much stood in their way today for Manchester City. So we've got 13 games left of this season. That's still more than a third.

48:32So a lot of points still to play for. If we're thinking about the Champions League, it's pretty much assured that it's going to be down the top five again this season. So how do you see this race, Daniel, right now from Liverpool's perspective?

48:47Daniel Sturridge:I think that the manager will definitely have decisions to make on stylistically how he wants to move forward. Of course, fitness issues will have their impact, but Chelsea and Manchester United at the moment are high on confidence, feeling themselves. And Liverpool have, I think their confidence level isn't where Chelsea's and Manchester United is. Chelsea won four out of four. Man United won four out of four. Yeah, and I think if you look at how they set up today, maybe we could look at the positivity of the set-up and go, OK, yeah, maybe they went for it because of the occasion and the fans.

49:20Daniel Sturridge:but I think if they, I can't see them playing that front. They need steel in midfield. They do. They can see too many counterattacks. They can see too many opportunities. This is not, we're talking about Virgil van Dijk being the top of order. A lot of statistics, headers, this and that. It's like, we don't, Virgil isn't up there usually. You know, defensively, they are missing something in there. I don't think the midfield right now, and this isn't me having a dig at them, but I don't think that they are defensive. I still think there are offensive-minded players in there. And I think they do need someone who's going to be like, my job is to just run around and make tackles and break playoff.

49:57Daniel Sturridge:And that's what I need to do and let the guys play. Because the attack and the creativity, there's no question there. But it's stopping the attacks. It's breaking it down. There's no defensive midfielder in there that this is my role. I'm out here to stop things. And that's what the best teams have. So, Jamie, do you think then in reality, Arna Slott has got to fight on to save his job here or get himself another season? Just paraphrasing what you said on Monday night in terms of Liverpool reaching the Champions League next season. Top five will be necessary unless they go and win the Champions League themselves.

50:29If you said to me, I think Liverpool are going to be in the top five, I would say no. You don't think they will? Right now, I don't know. They'd have to have a huge upturn in form. And the ones above them, as Daniels just said, are in great form. But that was my opinion of the situation, that I think it'd be difficult to defend the manager or from maybe to stay in the job if you miss out on Champions League football. I haven't won the title the season before, but it was really interesting. There was a roundtable discussion, I think, you know, a few days ago between Billy Hogan, you know, the manager and Richard Hughes about basically...

51:06With key journalists? no no it was I think it was for the standard charter it was for the club and it went out and in some ways I think and it was you know they spoke about the issue they'd had this season the difficulties transfer wise and the problems that they had and I think most supporters have looked at that and almost seen that as almost a statement from the club to say stop talking about the manager he's our man and he's going to stay which is absolutely fine so it doesn't really matter what we say on that so I think I see the managers staying almost no matter what I mean if Liverpool went out very early in the FA Cup and the Champions League that might be a different kettle of fish but I think that chat and some things you read about there's a big article there in the Sunday Times you read things and obviously little information is getting given out at different times and it looks like they're backing their mind

51:59Daniel Sturridge:Don't you think though, sorry Dave if Liverpool play like they did in the second half in terms of how aggressive they were And we just showed the chances, I think the second for chances created. They must put them shots away. There's got to be moments where they're going to get over the line. It was sort of the contrast of two Liverpools. You mentioned Liverpool, how they was. In the first half, Man City dominated the ball. They sat back a little bit, tensive in the way they did things. Second half, when they had the go at City, that's when Liverpool are at the best special year. And we shouldn't forget, Michael, that Alexander Isak is to come back at some point.

52:33Exactly.

52:34Daniel Sturridge:I think Liverpool get into the Champions League I think the manager's still figuring out what he needs but if the player added in the second half I think they'll be fine but the strength and depth's a problem isn't it because obviously we're talking about United for example nor are distractions Liverpool have still called competitions and the manager said in his interview there he went he didn't feel he had to make changes because the team were doing well which they were but when he did look over his shoulder if he did want to make changes the options weren't great and that would catch him on the game I think Liverpool have won five league games since September you know so we're almost sort of how's he going to fix what team's he going to pick what's he going to do continually sort of asking questions Sonnenau beating at home still that's Wednesday night and then the next three are against teams who are currently in the bottom four but do you see hazards there Daniel?

53:25Has hazards there games that Liverpool are expected to win? Any game in the Premier League

53:27Daniel Sturridge:is going to be difficult so we can't you know all opposition have their tools and things like that nature, Liverpool don't have a problem creating the chances like we've talked about. It's about taking them. The players that they've got up front are top players. We're used to seeing Mo score 15, 25, 30 goals. He's on I think four Premier League goals right now, so he's not at the level that he's been at. Ekotike's come in, he's done what he's done. He's got his 10 goals. Gakpo, he's not been as consistent as he has in the past. Isak's out, you know, and I think collectively Verts is pitching in, but I wouldn't say he's a goal scorer, like he's going to rely on him to score goals consistently.

54:03Daniel Sturridge:So I think all in all, when you look at the attack, you've got Rio on the bench, a young player and a few other guys. They've got to step up. You know, these are top-level players we're talking about, guys that the chances that are being put on the plate for them, you would expect them to score them. And maybe it's collective confidence too. Yeah, the confidence would certainly come into it. You mentioned earlier, Jamie, what the late goals they're conceding, that'd be a reflection of the squad. Because we know a lot of games are won and lost in the last 10, 15 minutes, particularly in the premiership where it's physically hard and mentally tiring.

54:33And if you haven't got them options to come off the bench, that quality. When you compare, for example, Liverpool's bench at the moment to Man City's or Arsenal's, they're way behind. And that will reflect on the late goals and the option the manager wants coming on late in the game. We'll just leave that there a second. That graphic, Jamie, this is what you were talking about before. The most, joint most in Premier League history, winning goals conceded 90 plus minutes or later. And a lot of those other teams, I'm guessing, would have dropped out of the league. in those seasons. I mean, that's awful.

55:04And Roy's right, a lot of that is to do with the make-up of the squad and the strength on the bench. And anyone who's not a Liverpool supporter watching, that's probably screaming at the TV thinking, you spent£450 million in the summer. And they've got a point how Liverpool have got themselves in a situation where you look at the squad. And people talk about injuries Liverpool have got. Not loads of injuries. Even at the start of the season, you know, everyone's fit. You've still got a couple of kids on the bench. The squad was never strong enough. I mean, as I said, you look at those sort of other teams they're probably teams who got relegated and Roy's right games are won in the last sort of 10 or 15 minutes but the amount of times and it was a little bit different today Liverpool have actually got an equaliser in those games you think go on and win the game Bournemouth was a perfect example and what go 2-2 you're going to win the game that's you know every top team does that the great teams who win titles do that Liverpool did that last season you don't think they're going to lose the game from that position I mean it's a shocking statistic

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56:59It's Toe to Toe, a Sky Sports podcast.

57:05This is the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. Let's get more analysis of the game and return to the studio. Well, he's conquered some demons here this afternoon because for the first time with fans present, Pep Guardiola has masterminded a Premier League victory for his City side at Anfield. He's giving his reaction to Patrick Davison. Well, Pep, where are your emotions? How proud are you of what you've seen from your team, from your club today? Yeah, because we won, right? We won as we were proud and doing the same. We make an incredible first half really good. We missed some chances, but especially the last pass, the second half.

57:48Homar and Erling didn't help us to keep that ball, that they make push Liverpool more, you know, more marking and more aggressive and they have the momentum. and after it was Soláin again making a copy-paste goal like against Arsenal. What a strike, what a shoot, what a player. And at the end, yeah, being lit for our captain, for his, I would say, character, personality and don't give up. And with Ruben again, you know, back, we follow him and at the end, yeah, at the end we could come back. 10 shots in the first half which is the most by a visiting team since they began keeping records I think in the early 2000s so what was the key to that first half performance?

58:37Just how good was that? We played good but we don't produce what maybe we should do for the last pass, a little bit too hectic I would say to Naras, have to be a little bit more composer but it's the quality the players that we have, we have another type of quality but defensively always we were so brilliant I know the pace with Etike with Mohr with of course Gabco with the veers between the lines always not easy to control but yeah second half we expect that Bernardo and Roddy were less involved and these long balls I'm not saying to win one but if you lose all of them you suffer How concerned were your second half?

59:23having played so well first half having the season it's strange no, not strange it will happen many times you have a problem so we are not consistent to be 90 minutes read a little bit more but what I said it's a team who try to grow and being you know in that position many times this season it's because still maybe we're not completely ready but maybe in one month we're more ready because Ruben is back Jono Stone is coming back step by step and Jeremy and Savio is coming back soon too so when everybody has this old squad it's a little bit better It's the youngest Man City team you've had, will they grow hugely from what they've just done?

1:00:09They'll have a bright future the club has a bright, bright future Chiqui and Hugo, alongside Ferran, make a good sign, really really good ones and with the time when everyone will be settled, the team will continue to be there. What does it mean to you, personally, to win here? I know you won during the Covid year, but there's been some tough moments as well. I prefer to win with an incredible crowd like Liverpool, especially because I don't want Covid back again for what will happen for all the humanity, I would say. But, yeah, it's special. So it's an incredibly tough place to come. so with Arnest difficult with Jurgen was difficult so the quality they have, the history this stadium has, of course this is nice so we won once, it's the second time we won't here.

1:01:03A few moments ago we interviewed Bernardo and Erling Haaland who said that their feeling was that had you lost today that would have been the title gone and I know beforehand you said 13-14 games is an eternity but did you feel similar? 1-0 down, 9 points it'll be too much? Listen, in that moment I don't think 9 points is too much, of course it will be massive because you see Arsenal how strong they are in all competitions and many, many aspects but 13-0 had the feeling the same that is a lot of games what I thought is always I am there what I have done good, we have to do better to win games in the future That is what I was thinking.

1:01:48What happened again? Why we don't control the second half when the opponents make these man markings? But of course, we need this type of victory because despite what happened today, so we have many, many good things to fight, a final like Arabao Cup. If we are there, Champions League, we're going to last 16. So there's so excitement. And of course, being six points behind Arsenal, okay, it's a big gap because they don't cause goals, they win all the games, but yeah, many things are going to happen, I guess. Can I lastly ask you what you made of that, what would have been a third goal at the end?

1:02:25Foul by Zobber's life, foul by Haaland. I think everyone would have been happier had it been allowed. Yeah, come on, referee, give the goal, you know. Of course, his fault, and after his fault for Erling because, you know, he's been pulled. But give, you know, it's all, but give the goal. Sometimes it's the common sense sometimes, right? So it should be easy, you know? But anyway, like we won, everything is fine. Well done. OK, thank you. Thank you. Of course, the officials would say there's nothing can do, despite the fact that they've called killjoys up and down the land right now. But you heard it from Pep, the quadruple is still very much on and alive for Manchester City.

1:03:08But, Micah, seriously, how much can one result, one turnaround, change the complexion here? Could one victory here, when it looked like City might be beaten, catapult them into favouritism for the title?

1:03:20Daniel Sturridge:I won't say favouritism. I think they've got experience within it. I told you before we started today, against Spurs in the first half, excellent, against Newcastle, I saw signs of them being able to come up with this sort of performance. And that's why I said it. City's fixtures look quite favourable, I would say. City could go on a run for 10 games. That's how good they can be. Well, let's look at this. Could they win all of these? They could do, because they've done it before, of evidence we've seen in the past. I don't think they're the team of the past, but what they've showed today against Liverpool at Anfield, especially when you go one down, have you got the character to come back in the game?

1:03:58Daniel Sturridge:And that's exactly what they did, and that's why I went strong. I'm watching them. Everyone, we talk about stats, and we love stats. You boys especially love the stats. But when I'm watching him, the combination, especially that's what I was talking about, Mamouche and Semenyo was wide forward. It was exciting. They're playing good football, and that's why I thought they could do something today. Why are you laughing at him? I'm enjoying it. It's full of energy, isn't it? But as much as it changes things for Manchester City, surely also if you're in the Arsenal dressing room right now, it completely changes the thought process for them as well.

1:04:36and games that you might have thought, oh, we're relaxed now, we've won four on the bounce, suddenly looking a bit harder like Brentford on Thursday.

1:04:42Daniel Sturridge:They can't. They can't let anything on the outside. They're in the driver's seat. They're in control of their destiny. That's what you want as a football player. You want to be able to feel like as long as we keep doing what we need to do, we're going to win the title. So I don't care if you win. You can win as many games as you want. As long as I do my job, that sort of matters. And I think that's the perspective that Arsenal have to have. Yes, cool, we understand from the outside. We're seeing that it might add a bit more tension, a bit more drama, a bit more jeopardy. But from their perspective, they have to be thinking it's another day at the office.

1:05:18Daniel Sturridge:We've got to go out here. We've got to do a job and focus on ourselves. I think when you look at those fixtures, they look favourable for Man City. But I'm sure if we put Arsenal up, it would be pretty much the same. And we're talking about Arsenal still having to go to City. I think the Carabao Cup final is a huge moment for both teams and I I think if Manchester City will not psychologically because then a lot of talk would be oh man Arsenal can't get over the line again another trophy even if the sort of if City could cut that by a point or two round about then and could beat them in the Carabao Cup final I think psychologically that would be huge for sort of Manchester City in that run and I think Arsenal are the best team I think they've got the best squad I still believe they'll go on and win the league but I'm just thinking where City can get a little chink at them.

1:06:02And for me, I think it's almost better for Man City that they're playing Arsenal than Chelsea in the final, just for that reason, psychologically. March 22nd is the Carabao Cup final with us. And then April 18th, 19th, that weekend for Manchester City against Arsenal. Is it a question for City then of just trying to get on Arsenal's coattails before that game comes around? Yeah, of course. Yeah, and I think we've been critical of the City team over the last 18 months or so, but if you're in Arsenal's camp, yeah, you'll come to where you are and the points total and they're playing and again, a lot of goals over the last week or so, the clean cheese, etc.

1:06:39But you don't want to be looking over shoulder at Pep because they've got a history of hunting you down. That's the only, I still agree, I still believe Arsenal will win the league, but when you look over shoulder and today, when you see them, the Arsenal players would be at home, a lot of them would be watching the game and the staff and you see their 1-0 down, City would be going, there'll be an element of that. And you think, well, they might get a draw and then to go on and win it. And you know, Pep, I don't know, sometimes we do kind of write Pep off. We do go, has he still got that hunger, this city?

1:07:05Is it a rebuilding job? And he just mentioned they're still in contention to win a few trophies here. And they will try and hunt that Arsenal team down. Could it be a leaving gift, Micah? You said the club has a bright future.

1:07:18Daniel Sturridge:Well, yeah. I mean, with him in it, I think. We hope. Because it's been superb, hasn't it, Dave? It certainly has.

1:07:31Thanks for listening to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. Don't forget to hit follow so you don't miss an episode. Thumbtack presents Uncertainty Strikes. I was surrounded. The aisle and the options were closing in. There were paint rollers, satin and matte finish, angle brushes and natural bristles. There were too many choices. What if I never got my living room painted? What if I couldn't figure out what type of paint to use? What if I just used Thumbtack? I can hire a top-rated pro that knows everything about interior paint, easily compare prices, and read reviews. Thumbtack knows homes.

1:08:10Download the app today.