However, City, despite the introduction of Sterling, failed to turn their increased possession into a goal threat, with Gabriel Jesus anonymous throughout.
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Liverpool were already the only team to have beaten them in the Premier League this season; Anfield the only Premier League ground on which they had tasted defeat in any competition. There is no way they would have viasualised being 3-0 down after the first leg tonight.
City boss Pep Guardiola had insisted he wouldn’t set out to defend in the first leg and some will applaud him for sticking to the formula that has carried his team to the brink of the Premier League title.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp refused to celebrate after Anfield delivered on its promise of another epic Champions League night.
City were well aware of the cauldron they were facing from the off as their team bus was battered by bottles and cans on their arrival at Anfield.
Merseyside Police said they would launch enquiries to find the culprits of what they described as “appalling” behaviour.
After the game, Barton took to social media to comment on the Reds’ win.
Andrew Robertson – 7 – The Scotland worldwide was also fearless against City’s front line; a solid and characteristically courageous performance.
The midfielder claimed that Liverpool’s clean-sheet was nearly as important as their goals and speaking to RTÉ Sport he said: “The nil is always massive, it gives us a great chance to get there and get a goal and that sets us up to see it home”.
“That’s the only danger for me, that Liverpool get a bit complacent”.
“We’ve seen comebacks before and we shouldn’t write City off completely”. He did, however, say he did not expect this from “a club this prestigious” as Liverpool. “It is not Liverpool, it is the people, but hopefully it does not happen again”.
The atmosphere was equally electric inside the stadium for Liverpool’s first Champions League quarter-final for nine years. It may have been different had the first goal been flagged offside, but beyond that City only had themselves to blame; they gave the ball away too often and forgot to attack with any volition.
As Liverpool turned up the pressure, City’s flaws, concealed for most of this season, were suddenly exposed.
Guardiola experimented with Aymerick Laporte, a £57million centre-half, at left-back against Everton at the weekend and he was barely troubled by Theo Walcott.
After a City corner, James Milner launched the ball forward, Salah broke from the halfway line and played the ball inside to Roberto Firmino. Guardiola’s side could not muster a shot on target and Liverpool keeper Loris Karius had a comfortable night. It is rare because they are so good.
The Reds suffered a blow early on in the second period, with star-man Salah forced off with a groin injury.
But what about Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain?
The Brazilian’s tireless tracking and willingness to run every channel sometimes overshadows the elegance of his approach.
Salah floated a teasing cross from the right towards Mane, who rose above the City defence to power a header past Ederson and send the Anfield crowd into delirium.
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It is within their capability – but it is a very long shot.
