Champions League: Liverpool beat City 5-1 on aggregate
What's the story
Manchester City's hopes of winning the treble were thwarted by Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool as the Reds beat City 5-1 on aggregate after a 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium in the Champions League quarter-final. Goals from the impressive Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah sealed the victory for Liverpool as City crashed out of Europe. Here's our match report.
Quick response
Gabriel Jesus gives Manchester City hope of a comeback
After suffering a 3-0 loss in the first leg, Manchester City came out all guns blazing. Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring to send the home fans into a frenzy two minutes into the game. Liverpool then had to withstand a barrage of chances in the first half as City looked threatening. Bernardo Silva came close to scoring but was denied by the woodwork.
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Gabriel Jesus makes it 1-0 in the 2nd minute
Gabriel Jesus! #MCFC already have one back, cutting #LFC's lead to 3-1 on aggregate. Great work by Sterling to press van Dijk and force a turnover, and then he ran through to set up Jesus. #MCILIV #cityvlfc #ManCity #UCL pic.twitter.com/FnOSdnodo0
— Jason Foster (@JogaBonito_USA) April 10, 2018
Sane's goal ruled off
Controversy strikes at the Etihad Stadium
City's Leroy Sane scored in the dying minutes of the first half. However, a howler from the referee saw the goal ruled as an offside. Sane was not only onside, but the ball also came off James Milner. If the goal had stood, the result could have been different. But it was not Manchester City's night.
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Was Sane in an offside position?
#MCFC thought they'd scored, but Leroy Sané's goal was called back for offside after Karius had come off his line. Questions though, because the ball came off Milner last....#LFC #MCILIV #cityvlfc #UCL #ManCity pic.twitter.com/Jfy0gV8to8
— Jason Foster (@JogaBonito_USA) April 10, 2018
Punished
Furious Guardiola sent to the stands
Pep Guardiola was sent to the stands at half-time for his angry protestations over the disallowed goal. The City coach ran up to the referee after the half-time whistle to make his feeling clear about Leroy Sane's disallowed goal. Guardiola was seen screaming at the official and gesturing wildly before being to sent to the stands.
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Guardiola fumes at the referee's poor decision
Safe to say that #Pep Guardiola was extremely unhappy with the officiating in the 1st half of #MCILIV.....he was having quite a go at the referee as they walked off for half-time....#MCFC #ManCity #cityvlfc #UCL pic.twitter.com/RRBdtuvt3s
— Jason Foster (@JogaBonito_USA) April 10, 2018
Put to the sword
Mohamed Salah lands the sucker punch
Liverpool upped the ante in the second half. Mane started a brilliant run on the counter taking on 3 defenders before City's keeper Ederson stopped him only for the ball to fall to Salah who chipped it into an empty net. Firmino then made it 5-1 on aggregate tucking a low drive inside the far post.
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Liverpool's hero Salah strikes again
Mohamed Salah only had 23 touches in the first 55 minutes, as #LFC struggled to get out of their own half. But they finally found him in transition, and he put the dagger in #MCFC. Predatory instinct to follow Mané's dribble, and splendid dinked finish. #MCILIV #LiverpoolFC #UCL pic.twitter.com/SwE9cEQXKd
— Jason Foster (@JogaBonito_USA) April 10, 2018
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Firmino ends City's comeback hopes
Firmino makes it 2-1 on the night for #LFC, who now lead 5-1 on aggregate and are headed to the #UCL semifinals! Awful mistake by Otamendi to gift it to Firmino, who then finished clinically. #MCFC #MCILIV #cityvlfc pic.twitter.com/kpA2dRLOv6
— Jason Foster (@JogaBonito_USA) April 10, 2018