3 Things that went right for Liverpool against Manchester City

Liverpool thrashed Manchester City 3-0 at Anfield in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie. First-half goals from Mohamed Salah, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sadio Mane gave the Reds just the start they wanted in the tie.

But even the most optimistic Liverpool fan would've been biting his nails at half-time given the Reds' general defensive record this season.

But Liverpool defended resolutely, as a clean sheet was kept, and Pep Guardiola's men were left with a mountain to climb in the second leg at the Etihad Stadium next week,

Here are the main reason the Reds were able to send a raucous Anfield crowd home happy.

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#3 Winning the Midfield Battle

Chamberlain was in brilliant form against City

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Oxlade-Chamberlain started in midfield for the Reds, in the absence of the injured Emre Can.

It was imperative for the Reds to replicate the high-intensity midfield performance from the league game at Anfield in January, which they won 4-3.

Henderson and Milner started off brilliantly, as they didn't give Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva any time on the ball. That ensured the radars of City's two midfield magicians went awry.

Milner, in particular, was absolutely outstanding, winning several tackles, stopping City on their counter-attacking runs, whenever they had the chance.

Oxlade-Chamberlain brought his usual energy to the fore, and an excellent performance was capped off by an absolutely stunning strike in the 21st minute, that hit the corner of the net even before Ederson could move.

The only sour note on the night was the late yellow card picked up by Henderson, who will now miss the second leg, with a suspension.

#2 Trent Alexander-Arnold silences the doubters

It was Alexander-Arnold's best performance in a Liverpool shirt

Over the past few weeks, there have been huge question-marks over the young Liverpool right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold.

It started at Old Trafford last month when Marcus Rashford scored twice after giving the young Scouser the slip.

But on a night when the Scousers in the stands brought their A-game, the one Scouser in the Liverpool starting XI decided that a Champions League quarterfinal would be a good time to bring his A-game. Of course, it would be.

Leroy Sane came into this game in rampaging form, and it was a huge concern for the Reds going into the game, given Alexander-Arnold's current lack of confidence.

But in the end: Sane created zero chances, had zero shots on target, completed zero crosses, and was dispossessed five times in the 80 touches that he had in the game.

Would it be fair to say that Alexander-Arnold had the better of the duel in this game?

#1 A Gegenpressing Lesson. Again

Firmino and Milner were instrumental in Liverpool's pressing

This was the 13th encounter between Guardiola and Klopp. This was the German's seventh win over the Spaniard. It is only fair to say that a Guardiola side really does not like a Klopp side on the other end of the field.

Once again, Roberto Firmino led the Liverpool press. Ederson didn't have the option to pass short to his defenders. Nicolas Otamendi and Vincent Kompany were taken care of by Firmino's pressing. The full-backs were penned in by Mane and Salah.

When City bypassed the first line of pressing and managed to get the ball into midfield, they were met with three Englishman determined to have the games of their lives.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, Milner and Henderson pressed the City midfield into mistakes.

Chamberlain's press led to Sane giving the ball way for Liverpool's first goal, Firmino won the ball back for the second goal, and even the third came from a quick transition.