Match reportLiverpool beaten by Manchester City at Anfield

Deep into a second half in which the Reds were on top, Dominik Szoboszlai swerved a brilliant free-kick in off the post.

City mounted a late turnaround to take the points, however, through goals from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland, the latter from a penalty in stoppage time.

During a frantic additional spell, Rayan Cherki had the ball in the net again from long range with Alisson Becker out of goal.

But it was disallowed as Haaland and Szoboszlai fouled each other in chasing down the shot, with the latter sent off for his offence.

Team

Arne Slot fielded an unchanged Reds line-up from the side that defeated Newcastle United eight days prior.

Liverpool: Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez (Chiesa, 90+4), Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Gakpo (Jones, 85), Ekitike, Gravenberch.

Unused subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Endo, Robertson, Nyoni, Ramsay, Ngumoha.

First half

The game was played at a clip from the off and City almost landed an immediate blow.

In the second minute, Silva slid a pass into the Liverpool area for Haaland to spring into a one-v-one.

But a combination of preventative touches from Alisson and Milos Kerkez foiled the Norwegian.

Omar Marmoush dragged wide when later freed in behind, though this time the Reds' offside trap had ensured no real threat in any case.

A peach of a forward pass from Alexis Mac Allister came in response to sustained City pressure and teed up Mohamed Salah.

The Egyptian opened up a shooting position in the area and his right-footer was deflected wide of the target off Marc Guehi.

Florian Wirtz cut through the visitors with a fine pass that Hugo Ekitike was unable to capitalise on, blocked out at the edge of the box by the opposition.

Haaland struck a bouncing ball into the gloves of Alisson from Rodri's delivery and the interval arrived with no mark on the scoresheet.

Second half

Salah failed to properly connect with his finish from a Cody Gakpo square across the box straight from the action's resumption.

Next, Szoboszlai was in the right place to eliminate the danger when Alisson miskicked with Marmoush chasing a ball over the top.

The Hungarian clipped a low effort that was straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma and Ekitike curled one wide after Salah and Wirtz harrying.

Alisson plucked in an Antoine Semenyo drive as City emerged from a period of encampment in their own half.

Liverpool's goalkeeper immediately sparked a counter-attack ending with Ekitike nodding a yard the wrong side of the left post from Salah's toe-poke cross.

Ruben Dias sliced off target and Wirtz was thwarted by a Guehi block, before the City centre-back halted a Salah attack with a cynical shirt-pull.

The incident occurred on the cusp of the box and was judged not to be a denial of a scoring opportunity and red-card offence, via a VAR check.

The Reds would break the stalemate from a dead-ball on 74 minutes, though, and in world-class fashion.

Szoboszlai stood over a set-piece fully 25 yards or more from goal and made his shooting intentions very clear.

The strike was sumptuous, truly smacked into the air and laser-guided off the inside of the right post into the City net.

But the away team got back on terms 10 minutes later, Haaland angling a headed knockdown into the path of Silva to prod in from close range.

And at the outset of seven minutes initially added, Alisson brought down Matheus Nunes as he rushed from goal and the referee pointed to the spot.

Haaland guided the kick into the bottom left corner to put City in front.

A chaotic passage of play ensued, Alisson saving from Rayan Ait-Nouri and Donnarumma producing a stretching save to tip out a deflected Mac Allister hit.

The Reds sent their goalkeeper forward in the final throes and on a breakaway, Cherki rolled an effort towards the exposed net from the halfway line.

Haaland and Szoboszlai were impeding each other as they ran after the ball before it crossed the line.

Ultimately, the officials ruled Szoboszlai's contribution to be worthy of dismissal and the chain of events meant the goal did not count.

Attendance: 60,336