Liverpool vs Man City player ratings: Salah 9, Gomez 8; Haaland 6, Foden 3

Liverpool boss Klopp sent off as Salah goal inflicts first defeat of the season on City

LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker – 7. The Brazilian made a number of important saves but his best contribution was the long kick that allowed Salah the chance to score. His quick thinking opened up the game. EPA

James Milner – 7. The 36-year-old took the battle to Foden. He was strong in the tackle and even got forward and looked to cross. It was foolish to see him as the weak link. Getty Images

Joe Gomez – 8. The 25-year-old was unruffled by the presence of Haaland and made a great block from the striker. He made a series of interceptions and tackles. Getty Images

Virgil van Dijk – 7. The Dutchman was composed throughout and not intimidated by Haaland’s physicality. A calming influence at the back. EPA

Andrew Robertson – 7. The Scot refused to be pinned back by City’s attack and got forward in relentless fashion. He fired one opportunity over the bar and worried the defence constantly. AFP

Fabinho – 7. The Brazilian was kept busy protecting the defence, a job he carried out effectively. When he got the chance, he looked to probe forward. Henderson replaced him in the 73rd minute. AP Photo

Thiago Alcantara – 6. The 31-year-old battled in the midfield but struggled to impose his trademark passing on the game in hectic conditions. AFP

Harvey Elliott – 6. The 19-year-old made sure that he did not leave the defence exposed. That limited his forward motion and when given an opportunity by Salah, he got caught in two minds. He was withdrawn for Carvalho in the 73rd minute. Reuters

Mohamed Salah – 9. The Egyptian was a constant menace for the defence. He was foiled by a fingertip save by Ederson but when he turned Cancelo and went one-on-one with the goalkeeper, the striker made no mistake and scored a brilliant goal. He came off in the last minute for Alexander-Arnold. PA

Diogo Jota – 7. The Portuguese threatened with direct running but his backtracking might have been better. He got into good positions in the second half but was not picked out by teammates. A stoppage-time injury ended his participation and he was replaced by Tsimikas. PA

Roberto Firmino – 6. The Brazilian was sucked deep to help out the midfield and that limited his attacking contribution. He made way for Nunez in the 72nd minute. AFP

SUBS: Darwin Nunez – 6. The Uruguayan replaced Firmino in the 72nd minute. He had a chance to set up Salah or Jota but decided to shoot instead. It was an awful decision. A cross to Alexander-Arnold was better but just too heavy. Getty

Jordan Henderson – 6. The 32-year-old joined the action with 17 minutes to go at Fabinho’s expense. He pressed City hard and screened the defence. Getty Images

Fabio Carvalho – 6. The Portuguese came on for Elliott in the 73rd minute. He ran at the defence and was brought down a number of times. Reuters

Trent Alexander-Arnold – N/A. The 23-year-old had a brief taste of the action after replacing Salah in the last minute. He got into a great position in front of goal but Nunez’s cross was just too heavy. AFP

Kostas Tsimikas – N/A. The Greek was sent on deep in stoppage time when Jota was injured. He was on the pitch for a matter of seconds. PA

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson – 6. The Brazilian made a series of saves and his fingertip effort to turn a Salah shot around the post was top class. He could do nothing when the Egyptian bore down unchallenged on goal to score the decisive goal. Getty

Joao Cancelo – 4. The Portuguese misjudged the ball and was turned by Salah for Liverpool’s goal. It was the defining moment in the game. He will be disappointed with that and his distribution was poor, too. Getty Images

Manuel Akanji – 5. The Swiss did well in the first half but began to struggle later in the game. He was unable to do much going forward. AFP

Ruben Dias – 6. The Portuguese’s lack of pace was exposed by Salah but he was strong in the tackle and in the air. AP Photo

Nathan Ake – 6. The Dutchman was composed and firm in the challenge. He was able to get forward and help with attacks. Reuters

Kevin De Bruyne – 6. Much of City’s threat came through the Belgian but he was not as influential as he would have liked. He had a low-key first half but was better after the break. EPA

Rodri – 5. The Spaniard was unable to take control in the midfield. He started poorly but improved as the game went on. AFP

Ilkay Gundogan – 6. The German looked to connect with Haaland and produced moments of danger. His final ball was not as precise as usual. He was replaced by Alvarez with a minute to go. AP Photo

Bernardo Silva – 4. The Portuguese did lots of running but it had little impact. His passing was scattergun and he made bad choices. EPA

Erland Haaland – 6. The Norwegian got into great positions and had some chances but could not convert. His pull on Fabinho’s shirt led to City’s goal being disallowed. Reuters

Phil Foden – 3. The 22-year-old was up against Milner but never tested the veteran’s legs. His shot and pass selection were poor. EPA

SUB: Julian Alvarez – N/A. The Argentine replaced Gundogan in the final minute. He was not on the pitch long enough to have any impact. EPA

A moment of individual brilliance from Mohamed Salah inflicted Manchester City’s first competitive defeat of the season as Liverpool won 1-0 at Anfield in a game which saw manager Jurgen Klopp sent off.

City have been bringing out the best of their north-west rivals for the past five years with some epic title races, but on this occasion that energy was boiled down into 90 pulsating minutes.

Klopp’s side had been timid, lethargic and vulnerable on numerous occasions this season – leading to the German accepting they are not currently in the title race – but this performance was anything but.

It was the Liverpool of old, tenacious, positive and aggressive – although too aggressive from their manager whom referee Anthony Taylor sent from the touchline after he blew a fuse at the official’s refusal to give a foul against Salah.

The Egypt international had already done the crucial damage, however, with a lightning-quick goal which caught City cold.

As soon as Kevin de Bruyne’s 76th-minute free-kick was in the hands of goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Salah was on the move, allowing him to expose Joao Cancelo one-on-one 15 yards inside the opposition’s half.

When the offensively-minded defender tried to nick the ball, Salah rolled him, raced away and confidently struck an 11th goal of the season.