Manchester City is out of the UEFA Champions League, as Liverpool defeated the Premier League leaders for the third time in four tries, this time a 2-1 set back at the Etihad Stadium that puts the Reds into the semifinals.
Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino scored for a 5-1 aggregate win, with Gabriel Jesus scoring Man City’s goal early.
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Heads whipped up to the clock. It read just over two minutes, and Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus had just shaped a shot around the splayed Loris Karius to make it 3-1 on aggregate.
Strap in, everyone!
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 10, 2018
Gabriel Jesus gives Man City a huge early goal to cut Liverpool's aggregate lead to 3-1. pic.twitter.com/e5pMAGIkpk
Sadio Mane saw yellow for a studs first challenge that perhaps unintentionally slipped into Nicolas Otamendi’s groin.
A dangerous free kick near the end line was next, but City could not cut the deficit to one.
Bernardo Silva chested down a diagonal ball and played to the top of the box for Kevin De Bruyne, who’s low shot was not a problem for Karius. It remained 1-0 (1-3) in the 27th minute.
City continued to control play, and Silva curled a 20-yard shot that took a slight turn off Dejan Lovren and onto the far post at the dawn of the 42nd minute.
Leroy Sane then saw a goal controversially pulled back for offside.
And then this:
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Pep Guardiola was sent off after the first half.
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 10, 2018
Man City will need to stage the comeback with their manager in the stands. pic.twitter.com/sWFHN1AWIu
Unbelievable first half. Incredible tempo. Man City so unlucky to not be at least 2-0 up
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) April 10, 2018
19 - Goalkeeper Loris Karius attempted the most passes of any Liverpool player in the first half vs Man City (19). Pressured.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 10, 2018
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Salah seemingly put the tie to bed with an away goal in the 56th minute, a moment after the Reds perhaps should’ve been awarded a penalty for a foul on Mane.
Sterling tore past Georginio Wijnaldum and Van Dijk to earn a free kick in the 66th minute. Sergio Aguero replaced David Silva before play restarted in Manchester.
32 – Liverpool have scored 32 goals in the Champions League this season – the joint-most by an English side in a single campaign alongside Man Utd (32 in 2002-03). Unstoppable. pic.twitter.com/GSzqFxyRQA
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 10, 2018