City EDS extend impressive home record with hard-fought Liverpool win

Determined to maintain our league unbeaten run on home soil against third-place Liverpool, who sat just four points ahead of City prior to tonight, our young boys in blue took a deserved early lead.

Floyd Samba guided home a pinpoint cross from Christian McFarlane on 15 minutes before Isaiah Dada-Mascoll’s header doubled our lead just after the hour.

City faced waves of pressure for the final 15 minutes, but a stoic back line maintained a rewarding clean sheet which could also prove key in the final League Phase standings.

The victory also means Ben Wilkinson’s side remain unbeaten on home soil in the league as we climb to fifth in the PL2 table.

WHAT HAPPENED

Monday night’s home clash with Liverpool marked our 28th meet-up with the Reds; the most out of any side City EDS have faced.

Of those 13 wins, six draws and eight defeats, our last loss on home soil dates back to 2015.

It was a feisty contest from kick-off as both teams tried to impose themselves and look to take control of the game.

And City did just that on 15 minutes.

Reigan Heskey played a dangerous ball in behind which full-back Christian McFarlane latched on to and the 19-year-old played a precise, low ball into the six-yard box from the left, and racing to tap home was Floyd Samba for his fourth PL2 goal of the season.

Just before the break, Kieran Morrison’s strike from the edge of the City box was Liverpool’s best chance of the opening 45 minutes as his left-footed effort curled wide of the far post.

The Reds were on the hunt for an equaliser after the break and enjoyed much more of the ball in the opening exchanges of the second period.

Sverre Nypan cleared Will Wright’s header off the line in what would prove Liverpool’s best chance of the game.  

But City showed great resilience, and responded quickly as Reigan Heskey received the switch from McAidoo and looked to place his shot into the far corner if not for a fantastic fingertip save by Pecsi.

As the game continued to yo-yo, this time Jack Wint made a low save to deny Tommy Pilling’s free-kick from the left edge of the City box just before the hour.

But it would be City who scored the all-important second goal of the game.

A corner routine from the training ground saw Dada-Mascoll head home McAidoo’s corner at the near post on 62 minutes to leave Liverpool frustrated.

For the remainder of the game, City’s structure and defensive duties were tested - but Wilkinson’s team showcased our class to hold out for an impressive fifth successive clean sheet.

HOW WE LINED UP

CITY XI | Wint, Nfonkeu (Henderson-Hall 64’), H. Parker, Noble, McFarlane, Dada-Mascoll, McAidoo, F. Samba (Braithwaite 82’), Sangare (Muir 76’), Nypan, R. Heskey.

SUBS | Brits, Fapetu.

LIVERPOOL XI | Pecsi, Ramsa, Pinnington, Nallo (Ndiaye 63’), Ewing, Kelly, Morrison, Laffey, Danns (Wright 29’), Pilling, Onanuga (Bradshaw 69’)

SUBS | Misciur, Pitt.  

AS A RESULT

City climb to fifth in the PL2 table with 34 points.

Our young boys in blue also move six points off leaders Chelsea with one game in hand.

UP NEXT

It’s a quick turnaround for our EDS who will now begin preparations for our PL2 trip to Birmingham City.

We take on the West Midlands outfit on Friday 20 March, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 (UK).

The game will be available to watch live on mancity.com and the Official Man City App for fans with a CITY+ subscription.