Summary

  • Aguero gives City the lead before Firmino levels for Reds

  • Sane's brilliant low drive finds net off far post to give City the win

  • Gap between leaders Liverpool and second-placed City now four points

  • Defeat is first Liverpool have suffered in league this season

  1. 'Aces in Pep's hands'published at 21:01 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2019

    Man City 1-0 Liverpool

    Pat Nevin
    Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 live

    All the aces are in Pep's hands, I don't see him changing anything at the moment but he does have some great options on the bench.

    Had Virgil van Dijk been the man marking Sergio Aguero, I don't think he would have got away for the goal - I was as impressed by the work of Bernardo Silva, David Silva and Leroy Sane all attacking that space down the left.

    It's poised really nicely, but I would like to see more from Liverpool in an attacking sense.

    Pep GuardiolaImage source, AFP
  2. Postpublished at 21:00 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2019

    It is 242 days since Liverpool last lost a Premier League game. Prince Harry had yet to marry when Olivier Giroud scored the only goal in a 1-0 win for Chelsea.

  3. 'Hardly anything between them'published at 20:57 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2019

    Man City 1-0 Liverpool

    Pat Nevin
    Former Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 live

    It was almost a fantastically well-worked plan from Liverpool. But I am surprised the two full backs have not got forward, only once or twice this half - maybe that was the game plan?

    Compare that to Aymeric Laporte and Danilo, they are not attack-minded whatsoever.

    I think the second half will see Jurgen Klopp ask Liverpool to go on the front foot. Not that they have been playing badly, there's hardly anything between the teams.

  4. Lovren exposed in key momentpublished at 20:52 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2019

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer at Etihad Stadium

    Not been the best of halves for Liverpool's Dejan Lovren. Shown a yellow card for a poor challenge then outwitted by Sergio Aguero for the goal - the striker moving and thinking quicker than the defender.

  5. 'Anything could happen in second half'published at 20:52 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2019

    Man City 1-0 Liverpool

    Chris Waddle
    Ex-Spurs and England winger on BBC Radio 5 live

    A lot of tension out there and a few tackles flying in, but the difference has been Sergio Aguero. Man City have just shaded it, but anything could happen in the second half.

    It's not dead.

    Leroy Sane has got the legs on anybody, Raheem Sterling has to move a little bit earlier - he did it once and got in behind.

    Liverpool need an Adam Lallana or Xherdan Shaqiri to get in the hole and create, give the front three service. The gap between the midfield and front three is 30-40 yards.

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:51 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2019

    #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only)

    Adeyemi Adisa: Sergio Ageuro is simply the definition of a world class finisher!

    Nic Peters: Not enough talk about Sane. He's been world class down the left, which is where the chances are coming from.

    Tuhin Rashid: Allison so overrated and overhyped by Liverpool fans. Best keeper in the premier League is out there but he's wearing yellow.

  7. How close?published at 20:51 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2019

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post

    1.12cm. That's 80% of a paracetamol...

  8. Postpublished at 20:49 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2019

    Danilo needs help to hobble off the field at the break. Could be a 45-minute job for Kyle Walker coming up.

  9. Four-point leadpublished at 20:49 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2019

    Man City 1-0 Liverpool

    .Image source, .
  10. HALF-TIMEpublished at 20:47 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2019

    Man City 1-0 Liverpool

    Advantage champions.

    Manchester City celebrateImage source, Getty Images
  11. YELLOW CARDpublished at 45+2 mins

    Man City 1-0 Liverpool

    Aymeric Laporte is booked for an ugly swipe on James Milner. Free-kick Liverpool. Cleared.

  12. 'Man City just edged it'published at 20:46 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2019

    Man City 1-0 Liverpool

    Chris Waddle
    Ex-Spurs and England winger on BBC Radio 5 live

    I think Manchester City have just edged it.

    Sergio Aguero's movement is fantastic. He runs at you, goes in behind, comes short - that goal was brilliant, the first touch with one foot and bang, finished.

  13. Postpublished at 45 mins

    Man City 1-0 Liverpool

    Sergio Aguero has now scored in all seven of his home league appearances against Liverpool (seven goals).

    Tidy.

    Both sides have had one chance, Sadio Mane hit the post and Aguero hit the roof of the net.

    Sergio Aguero celebratesImage source, Getty Images
  14. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:45 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2019

    #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only)

    Eddie: What a goal that is from Kun Aguero. Lasers the ball into the roof of the net from a near-impossible angle. Could have taken off Alisson's head. Top drawer stuff!!

    Paul Walmsley: Ah Lovren. Will never be a world class centre back.

    Neil Boughton: Aguero, best striker in the league, does it again.

  15. Liverpool lead by FOUR pointspublished at 44 mins

    Man City 1-0 Liverpool

    What a difference a goal can make.

  16. 'Top drawer from Aguero'published at 20:43 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2019

    Man City 1-0 Liverpool

    Chris Waddle
    Ex-Spurs and England winger on BBC Radio 5 live

    It all started with Leroy Sane's pace down the left, he goes away from Dejan Lovren like he wasn't there.

    This goal is absolutely Sergio Aguero at his best. He thinks he's fouled, gets up on to his feet and then the next ball comes in - it's a great touch and a hard volley.

    He has had a very good first half and it's a brilliant goal, absolutely top drawer.

    Sergio Aguero celebratesImage source, Reuters
  17. goal

    GOAL - Man City 1-0 Liverpoolpublished at 41 mins

    Sergio Aguero

    What a finish!

    Sergio Aguero's 250th league goal of his career has the champions ahead and may have introduced a cat amongst the pigeons in this title race. It all came from that pacey run from Leroy Sane as Liverpool never really got set, Bernardo Silva chips in from the left and Aguero brings it down with a deft touch.

    He swivels on it, poise, and absolutely leathers it into the roof of the net, power.

    You could say that Alisson would be 'disappointed to be beaten at his near post' but I've banned that phrase. You have Aguero hammer a shot at your face from six yards out and see how you react.

    Sergio Aguero scoresImage source, Reuters
  18. CLOSE!published at 40 mins

    Man City 0-0 Liverpool

    Incredible mismatch of pace down the left as Leory Sane streaks past Dejan Lovren and puts the ball across - it's half cleared though...

  19. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:38 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2019

    #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only)

    Harrison Short: Pretty much exactly the same tackle Kompany made in a Manchester derby a few seasons back, after which he was sent off. Lucky boy this time around.

    Loz Smith: Any other player and that's a red. There is a massive love in for Kompany because he's a "nice guy".

    Chris: Kompany very lucky there out of control scissor action is usually a straight red

  20. YELLOW CARDpublished at 37 mins

    Man City 0-0 Liverpool

    Well done that time, Vincent Kompany, as he beats Mo Salah fairly this time and plays it out. Leroy Sane shows great pace to streak through the middle and Gini Wijnaldum and Jordan Henderson sandwich him. The Dutchman is booked, though he barely touched him.