Liverpool came back from 2-0 down at half time to secure a memorable victory to keep them joint top and fires a warning that the Istanbul spirit is alive and well with Liverpool’s new contingent.
If Dirk Kuyt had scored the easy chance in the first few minutes this game could have taken on an entirely different complexion, and team selection again raised eyebrows when Mascherano replaced Keane in the only change from the PSV stroll on Wednesday.
It was Stephen Ireland who got the games first goal after Arbeloa took his eye off the ball. As the minutes ticked towards half time, and Liverpool’s chances were limited, the reds gave away a free kick just outside the box.
Javier Garrido curled the free kick straight in to the top corner, leaving Liverpool looking glum and City running riot.
But we all know about Liverpool and second half performances.
Torres sidefooted home a cross from Arbeloa to give the reds a fighting chance. City’s Zabaleta was shown a straight red for a ridiculous challenge on Xabi Alonso. Alonso has been on the receiving end of three red card challenges now this season.
Shortly after the reds scored yet again from a corner this season. Gerrard’s cross finding Torres head perfectly. And Torres should have sealed a hat-trick – just like he should have against Everton – but he managed to miss when it was easier to score.
As the minutes ticked down Skrtel appeared to suffer a serious leg injury when he buckled when chasing a ball back to Reina. The player was given strong painkillers on the pitch before being stretchered off.
The reds had used all their substitutes and were also down to ten men as the 6 minutes of injury time commenced. But the reds didn’t need the full amount as Dirk Kuyt fired the winner home. His first Premiership goal in 27 games could not have arrived at a more apt time.
A fantastic finish and the reds stay level with Chelsea at the top of the table.
Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Carragher, Skrtel, Arbeloa, Riera, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard (captain), Torres.
Subs – Benayoun, Agger, Babel, Dossena, Leiva, Cavalieri, Keane
Manchester City: Hart, Garrido, Dunne (captain), Richards, Zabaleta, Blumer, Ireland, Kompany, Wright-Phillips.
Subs – Schmeichel, Fernandes, Hamann, Evans, Ben-Haim, Petrov, Sturridge
Referee: Phil Walton
Attendance: 47,280
Well done the Reds, a great team spirted comeback,but lets not get carried away just yet. I still think that we are flattering to deceive at times in most of our premiership matches apart from the Man U one. Again we had lady luck on our side with the sending off, which certainly helped us get the win. Nevertheless, the signs are good provided we dont suffer any long term absences through injury and bans, and of course if Rafa doesnt keep tinkering with the team. keano scores his first ever goal against PSV to break his duck, and what does Rafa do but drop him from the next game when he is just staring to get his confidence back after his first goal for the Reds. This is surely bad management? Next up Wigan, so keep up the improvement lads, we are heading in the right direction. El Tel Alicante
Fantastic result! When all looked dead and buried, a couple of special goals bring us back to life and a first in ages for Kuyt seals it!
IF our form is to carry on like this, we don’t need to worry about what the other’s are doing around us! This will be seen as a key fixture come May!
well this is our season every trophy is ours although rafa is messing up but hats off to all the players
just imagine if stevens gerrads goal had been allowed agaisnt stoke city we would 3 points clear at the top.
Well lads, well done today. Use have done us all so so so proud. Please just keep it up and then we will be talking about number 19 (not getting to carried away am i?)
Fantastic, great unity shown ,balance and extreme confidence = No 19
great game from the REDS especially in the second half
great comeback again ,I was confident we could catch up in the second half we made that 3times already this season vs M’boro, vs utd and vs Marseille
Hope skrtel’s injury is not as serious as it looked
WELL DONE LADS
Great come back from the lads today, it fills me with confidence for the season, when we can come from 2 goals behind to win. With another international break just as we are building up a head of steam. Lets hope all the lads can come back injury free.
Hope Skrtels Knee injury isn’t major and he is back fit A.S.A.P.
Well done lads. Never giving up and doing all us Reds proud.
Number 19 is on it’s way, plain and simple.
Fantastic performance, Played to the end again and never gave up! Just as well the forum is down as it would have gone into melt down with that game. Best of Luck to Skrtel, hope the knee is OK.
more than anything give kuyt the big thumbs up,what a hard worker,trys to get goals but werent happening for him till today,his assistance and persistance is absolutelty awesome,keep up the good work dirk,what can you say about torres,nothing,speechless,nuff said
Before the match I was going to post on the web site, ” if we can beat City today, I may start believing this could be our season” I wasn’t able to watch or listen to the game but got an update at 2-0 down. Totally gutted. To come back from that was terrific. Wouldn’t have done it previously. At last, ALL the squad seem to believe they are unbeatable. That’s the attitude that was missing previously. Fantastic performance from every one. Can’t believe it myself, somebody pinch me! Can’t wait for the next game. Mighty Reds.
torres might do better than last year. look lady luck is on liverpools side and god. prayed for a liverpool victory when man city were leading 2-1. next came the red card followed by 2 liverpool goals. advise other people to pray for liverpool f.c on game days. say what you like about kuyt. but the harder you work the luckier you get. he proves that it works,i also notice that liverpool is one of the clubs with the fewest yellow cards in the premiership. this can only bring good karma bck to us.
Rafa’s got his Dirk Kuyt!!!
Na na na na!!!!!
Sorry, had to slip that one in (so to speak)!
why on earth has benitez changed the team since psv???
but fair play to them, fantastic comeback
when will benitez learn from his mistakes??
Absolutely fantastic performance title winning performance !
Pity the forum site was down, was hoping to read all the self doubters complaints at half time !
This is the true Liverpool spirit !
Well done reds! best result of the season (except the man u match) we showed the blue money mad mancs that money isnt everything. Rafa please dont sell Pennant, and why did you sell riise? he was quality.
Maybe, just maybe…..people WILL leave Kuyt to get on with the great work he does……in saying that, I am sure that those who do slag him off, are not LFC supporters!….KEEP IT UP KUYT…And well done!!!!
kuyt is the mannnnnnnnnnnn what a player
Fantastic win today, the lads showed their true fighting spirit to come back from two down.
Looking forward to watching this later on, Well done Fernando and Dirk.
Hope Skrtel will be OK, but at least we have a superb stand in, in Daniel Agger, time for him to step up to the mark and show Rafa his true worth.
The sign of true Champions to be able to come back like that today………..we wouldn’t have done this last season.
Well in Lads, Proud of you.
brilliant… sheer persistence and determination from the lads… the celebration after the third goal from the fans and team showed how much it meant for the club..awesome…
This is the man who some LFC fans do not like! and he scores a crucial goal ones again!
keep it up HARD WORKER!!!this is who LFC needs!
Well what a game that was 2-0 down at half time and then turn it around to win 2-3, only the best can do that.
Well done lads! hope Skrtel is gonna be ok after being taken off on a stretcher though.
End of the day, Man City 2, Liverpool 3. Nuff said
We’re in for a special season.Just keep the faith!