Pep Guardiola has declared that Manchester City are now “breathing down the necks” of Premier League leaders Arsenal following a dramatic, come-from-behind victory at Anfield. However, the Catalan tactician remained characteristically pragmatic, warning his squad that merely “improving a little” will not suffice if they are to overhaul the Gunners in a high-stakes title race.
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A Historic Night on Merseyside
For much of the encounter, it appeared Manchester City were destined for another disappointing outing at the home of their rivals. When Dominik Szoboszlai thundered home a sublime 74th-minute free-kick to put Liverpool ahead, the deficit between City and Arsenal threatened to widen to a daunting nine points.
Yet, in a flurry of late drama, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland turned the match on its head. The victory was particularly poignant as it marked City’s first win at Anfield in front of a capacity crowd since 2003—a psychological hurdle finally cleared.
The Mathematics of the Title Race
Bernardo Silva was blunt in his post-match assessment, stating, “The title race is over if we lost this game.” Guardiola, while slightly more optimistic, acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead. With 13 games remaining, the gap stands at six points, but Arsenal’s relentless form leaves little room for error.
“Nine points, watching Arsenal, it is difficult to think they are going to lose more than three games,” Guardiola remarked. “But in football, you never know. We have to play them at home; of course, we must beat them.”
Comparison of Title Contenders
| Feature | Arsenal (1st) | Manchester City (2nd) |
| Points Gap | +6 | -6 |
| Remaining Games | 13 | 13 |
| Head-to-Head | To be played at Etihad | To be played at Etihad |
| Recent Form (Last 5) | W-W-W-D-W | W-L-W-W-W |
Controversy and Common Sense
The match was not without its share of officiating drama. A late 100th-minute strike from the halfway line by Rayan Cherki was chalked off after Szoboszlai was sent off for a professional foul on Haaland. Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed deep frustration, not with Szoboszlai’s dismissal, but with a perceived lack of consistency regarding an earlier incident involving Marc Guéhi and Mohamed Salah.
Slot argued that Guéhi should have seen red for a shirt-pull on Salah when the Egyptian was through on goal at 0-0. “If you follow the rulebook, it is a red card,” Slot lamented, noting that Salah’s clinical history suggested a certain goal was denied.
Guardiola, meanwhile, offered a wry take on the late chaos, suggesting “common sense” should have prevailed to allow Cherki’s goal to stand so that Szoboszlai would not have to face a suspension. As the dust settles on a pulsating weekend, the focus shifts back to London, where Arsenal remain the team to beat.