Liverpool edge Man City

Second-placed Liverpool moved four points ahead of Manchester City with a slender 1-0 win over Pep Guardiola’s side in the Premier League at Anfield.

Georginio Wijnaldum finished off a fine counter-attack with a fantastic header for Jurgen Klopp’s side after Adam Lallana’s pin-point cross found the 25-year-old to give the Reds an early lead in the 8^th minute, in a game that failed to live up to its expectation.

The win sees Liverpool close the gap to six points off leaders Chelsea, and puts them in a challenging position heading into the new year. While Manchester City are now ten points off top-spot and seemingly out of the title-race.

Wijnaldum looked sharp after scoring the opener and the Dutchman should have at least worked Claudio Bravo in the 26^th minute when the former Newcastle United midfielder found space but blasted his effort high and wide

City at times struggled to deal with the host’s pressing, but Liverpool failed yet again to capitalise on Guardiola’s side’s frailties at the back after Emre Can’s curling effort from outside the box narrowly brushed past the post.

The hosts were happy to absorb City pressure after the interval, and this nearly cost them just before the hour mark when David Silva created space before hitting his shot off target, although the visitors were looking one-dimensional going forward.

Despite both sides boasting some of the best attacking players in the league, the quality usually associated with the two heavy-hitters failed to materialise, which was highlighted when the returning Sergio Ageuro’s lacklustre effort was hit straight at Simon Mignolet – the Argentine’s only shot on target.

Manchester City face Burnley at home on the 2^nd of January, before a crunch-clash with Tottenham Hotspur two weeks later. While Liverpool travel to struggling Sunderland on Monday, hoping to record their fifth consecutive win.

Image/GettyImages/CliveBrunskill

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