Manchester City vs Liverpool live updates: Nico goal puts hosts two up in Etihad thriller – The New York Times

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Manchester City lead title rivals Liverpool in an entertaining Premier League clash at the Etihad today.
City striker Erling Haaland saw an early penalty saved before heading home Matheus Nunes' cross.
Virgil van Dijk's header was harshly disallowed for offside before Nico scored via a deflection.
55’ Manchester City 2-0 Liverpool
It is absolutely hammering down in Manchester, which could make things interesting if things start to get a bit slippy out there.
That did not mean Cherki was happy to come off and get out of the rain, mind you.
52’ Manchester City 2-0 Liverpool
Off comes Rayan Cherki and on comes Savinho.
You would have put all your money on Liverpool making the first change here. You’d have lost that money!
51’ Manchester City 2-0 Liverpool
They have seen more of the ball and used it more effectively in the early part of this half.
But City remain a threat, particularly whenever Doku is on the ball.
Liverpool look vulnerable at the back.
47’ Manchester City 2-0 Liverpool
Alarm bells should be ringing in the Liverpool dugout as City go close again.
This time it is O’Reilly down the left with a cross that runs just a few inches too far ahead of Doku, who was unmarked and could have tapped in in the middle.
That was a close one.
45’ Manchester City 2-0 Liverpool
Somewhat surprisingly, no changes for either side at the start of this half.
Manchester City have won the moments.
Even the VAR decisions aside, they recognised there was a critical period just before half-time where Liverpool were frustrated, rattled and on the ropes.
That was the time to press forward and put their foot on the away side's throat. Yes, they got a bit lucky with the deflection but their awareness of the match situation meant they deserved it.
At 1-0, Liverpool are right in it. They face a tougher climb up the mountain towards a positive result now.
It was a rollercoaster few minutes early on for Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
The Georgian brought down Jeremy Doku to give away a penalty, but made amends moments later down to his left to thwart Erling Haaland from the spot.
The Premier League Match Centre has tweeted out an explanation of that disallowed goal from Virgil van Dijk on social media site X.
It read: “The referee’s call of offside and no goal to Liverpool was checked and confirmed by VAR – with Robertson in an offside position and deemed to be making an obvious action directly in front of the goalkeeper.”
Manchester City have now missed four of their last five Premier League penalties against Liverpool.
Wasteful.
Was this the perfect football purists’ goal?
Just maybe — every Manchester City outfield player touched the ball for Erling Haaland’s opener.
Only goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma missed out on that incredible back-to-front passing move to set up the Norwegian.
That’s the half-time whistle and what a first 45 minutes it was.
One saved penalty, one disallowed goal and two goals that stood — stick with us as we digest that during the break.
45+7’ Manchester City 2-0 Liverpool
Make no mistake, City have been excellent and Liverpool have been very poor.
They have been too sloppy, Ibrahima Konate has been on the ball far too often and City have kept them penned in.
You sense this might require changes from Arne Slot after the break.
45+4’ Manchester City 2-0 Liverpool
Liverpool just cannot get out or clear their lines and the ball drops to Nico on the top of the box.
He hits a low strike, Van Dijk flicks an ankle at it in bizarre fashion and the ball takes just enough of a deflection to beat goalkeeper Mamardashvili, who is wrong-footed.
City are good value for their lead.
45+2’ Manchester City 2-0 Liverpool
City have a succession of corners, the pressure is mounting and before you know it the ball is in the back of the net!
Nico Gonzalez is the man with the second for City.
45’ Manchester City 1-0 Liverpool
That is a hefty chunk of time for someone to change the game before the break…
44’ Manchester City 1-0 Liverpool
Frankly, that is harsh on Liverpool.
Andy Robertson was offside but that was incidental to the header.
Arne Slot and his side can feel aggrieved.
41’ Manchester City 1-0 Liverpool
Slot deep in conversation with the fourth official about the decision to disallow that Van Dijk header.
No doubt that Robertson was in an offside position but he ducked out of the way and Donnarumma was never getting across to save that regardless.
39’ Manchester City 1-0 Liverpool
It’s not Liverpool’s day when it comes to VAR calls!
Andy Robertson is judged to be impeding goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma as Van Dijk headed in from that Liverpool corner and so the goal is chalked off.
It was some header from the Liverpool captain and for the quality and placement of it, it deserved to count, but the rules are the rules.
38’ Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool
And what a sensational header from the captain!
But the offside flag is up…
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