Manchester City vs Liverpool live updates: Hosts two up after Haaland, Nico goals – The New York Times

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Manchester City lead Premier League title rivals Liverpool in an entertaining clash at the Etihad today.
City's 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.
58’ Manchester City 2-0 Liverpool
That was a huge chance for Liverpool.
Bradley goes on the underlap and puts a cross on a plate for Gakpo arriving at the back post. He fires well over.
Hands on heads for the visitors.
56’ Manchester City 2-0 Liverpool
There are those much-talked about changes from Slot.
Gakpo comes on for Ekitike, as does Kerkez for Robertson.
That should spark a bit of a shuffle in attack for Liverpool.
55’ Manchester City 2-0 Liverpool
I understand not making substitutions for the sake of it but for City to make the first change feels disappointing from Arne Slot.
City are more proactive and ambitious both on the pitch and on the sidelines at the moment.
Feels like Liverpool are sleepwalking towards a defeat here.
55’ Manchester City 2-0 Liverpool
Slot has sent Curtis Jones, Alexander Isak and Federico Chiesa out to warm up. The next goal is massive here. No sign yet of Liverpool mounting a comeback. City well on top.
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…
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