The Etihad Stadium was a cauldron of tension and drama during the first half of Manchester City vs Liverpool—a clash that showcased exactly why this rivalry defines modern Premier League football.
Manchester City came out blazing, asserting control early with crisp passing and intelligent movement. Phil Foden floated effortlessly between the lines, while Kevin De Bruyne orchestrated the rhythm of the game with his trademark vision. Up front, Erling Haaland was a constant menace, testing Liverpool’s defense with thunderous runs and probing shots. Jeremy Doku added to the chaos, repeatedly troubling Andy Robertson on the flank. Alisson had to be alert, making a strong save to deny Haaland from close range.
Liverpool, though under pressure, refused to cower. Mohamed Salah dropped deeper to help orchestrate play, turning Liverpool’s counters into genuine threats. A lightning break through Dominik Szoboszlai and Darwin Núñez nearly caught City off guard, but the shot narrowly missed, leaving the Etihad holding its collective breath.
Drama hit when Virgil van Dijk appeared to give Liverpool the lead—only for VAR to intervene, ruling the goal out due to Andy Robertson allegedly interfering from an offside position, despite Robertson seemingly stepping aside. The decision left Liverpool frustrated, and City galvanized.
Moments later, Manchester City made their dominance count. A slick midfield move released Haaland, who drilled a trademark low finish into the bottom corner, sending the home fans into ecstasy and putting City 1–0 ahead.
Liverpool tried to strike back instantly, with Salah setting up Luis Díaz in a promising position, but Ederson was lightning-fast to deny them.
The first half closed with a clear narrative: City dictating possession, Liverpool lethal on the break, and both sides trading high-quality, edge-of-your-seat moments. And let’s not forget the defining moment of the half—Giorgi Mamardashvili’s stunning penalty save against Haaland, turning a potentially game-changing situation into a statement of resilience after earlier defensive mishaps.
The Etihad has already delivered fireworks—if the first half is anything to go by, the second half promises to be even more explosive
