Substitute Yan Dhanda scored the winner on 89 minutes – a brilliant right-footed effort that curled past Daniel Grimshaw in the City goal as Liverpool consolidated their place at the top of the league.
What happened?
City were far from their best in the first half - but Lorenzo Gonzalez had the ball in the net after 14 minutes, rounding the ‘keeper and tapping home, only to see his effort ruled out for offside.
But Liverpool soon stepped up a gear and began creating the clearer chances. Grimshaw made a fine point-blank stop to deny Danny Ings from eight yards, and the former Burnley striker found himself clean through moments later but his lob went high over the bar.
Matt Smith was booked for bringing down Harry Wilson just outside the area, and the Liverpool midfielder stepped up and struck the post with the resulting free-kick. City were on the back foot.
Brahim Diaz’s brilliant trickery inside the area saw him create half a yard and get a shot away – but Kamil Grabara in the Liverpool goal made a superb save to deny the Spaniard what would have been an outstanding goal.
Ings volleyed over after a long ball into the City area was only half cleared, and Rhian Brewster forced another good stop from Grimshaw on the stroke of half-time.
The second-half saw City improve, with the game becoming much more open as both sides went in search of victory.
City had the first dangerous moment, Benjamin Garre, playing on the left of a four-man midfield, whipping in an excellent cross that had to be punched clear at full stretch from Grabara, before Jacob Davenport forced another smart stop for the Liverpool ‘keeper with a low drive from the edge of the box.
Suddenly, it was end to end. Grimshaw enhanced his growing reputation with a superb save from Brewster, before Diaz, twisting and turning inside the area, laid the ball off for Phil Foden, whose effort was blocked by Nathaniel Phillips six yards out.
Substitute Tom Dele-Bashiru burst forward with 10 minutes left and found himself one on one with Grabara, who produced a good save to push the midfielder’s effort past the post, before Harry Wilson’s free-kick skimmed the roof of the net in the dying moments
Benjamin Garre prodded wide at the back post after a fine counter-attack from City, a gilt-edged chance he probably should have done better with.
Jacob Davenport then produced a miraculous goal-line clearance to deny Phillips with seconds remaining, which looked to have sealed a vital away point for Simon Davies’ men – but substitute Yan Dhanda’s brilliant long-range effort with seconds remaining gave Grimshaw no chance and saw Liverpool return to Anfield with three points in the bag.
Man of the match: Brahim Diaz
Touch, balance, skill – Brahim has it all. This was far from his best display at this level but he still shone brightly and offered City’s best hope of a creative spark.
Up next?
City’s Under-19 side travel to Rotterdam to play Feyenoord in the UEFA Youth League on Wednesday at 2pm UK time. Keep an eye on mancity.com for coverage of that game.
And then it’s a home game with Sunderland in the Prmeier League 2 on Saturday.
