Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool: 5 Talking Points | Premier League 2018-19

It was perhaps one of the most anticipated fixtures of the season as Premier League pace-setters Liverpool traveled to the Etihad Stadium to face the defending Premier League champions, Manchester City.

It was the first time this season that Jurgen Klopp's team has conceded more than one goal in a league game as Guardiola finally got one over Jurgen Klopp, after having faced eight defeats at his hand in 15 meetings before tonight's fixture. It was an emphatic win for City as they reduced the gap between them and Liverpool to just four points.

It was the hosts who started the game more brightly as they looked to take the game to Liverpool and did not allow the visitors to settle. Liverpool started to get a grip on the game after 15 minutes and launched an attack of their own as Sadio Mane's shot struck Ederson's post at the 17th minute.

City scored the first of the game as Bernardo Silva's pass found Aguero, who beat Lovren and scored from an improbable angle with his left foot. The goal was quite against the run of play as Liverpool were by far more deserving of a lead heading into the break.

City started the second half with the same intent as the end of the first period and absolutely bossed the first 10 minutes, which forced Klopp to bring Fabinho. The Brazilian's arrival helped Liverpool get more stability in both attack and defense and eventually lead to Firmino's 64th-minute goal.

City took off David Silva for Gundogan in order to gain more control in the middle of the park. Leroy Sane, arguably City's best attacker on the night, scored a fine goal into the bottom right corner to give his side the lead.

Here are the key talking points from the game.

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#1 Title race far from over

Guardiola celebrating Sane's winner at the Etihad

This tie was deemed as the one that'd be a title decider as last year's Champions came off their worst run of form in recent memory, having lost three of their last five games. Liverpool came into the fixture with a seven-point lead over City.

A win for Liverpool would have virtually ended the title race. However, Pep Guardiola's side had other intentions. They played well for the most part of the game and gave Liverpool their first defeat in the Premier League this season. The gap is now reduced to four points and the title race is well and truly on.

#2 Unnecessary rotations hurt Liverpool

Shaqiri and Fabinho were dropped for Henderson and Milner tonight.

James Milner returned to full fitness just in time for tonight's mega-fixture, displacing man in form Xherdan Shaqiri, whilst captain Jordan Henderson started over Brazilian stalwart Fabinho, who's been involved in all of Liverpool's last 12 league games, starting 8 of them.

The change seemed to have affected Liverpool's rhythm as the league leaders sorely missed both their summer signings, as Henderson and Milner just couldn't provide the same combination of grit and silk that the Swiss and Brazilian internationals offered.

The Englishmen have a lot of experience and are great players but tonight's game wasn't the one to throw them back as Klopp failed to take an opportunity to go 10 points clear at the top. However, this is still Liverpool's title to lose.

#3 Leroy Sane was scary good on the night

The German winger tore apart Liverpool's backline on several occasions tonight

This was probably Leroy Sane's most rounded performances in a City shirt as he gave it his all for the entirety of the game, flying forward at every opportunity and also helping out in defense, whenever it was needed of him. He tracked down the runs of Trent Alexander Arnold on the flank, helping out Laporte, who was playing out of position at left-back to cover for the injured Benjamin Mendy.

Sane recovered the ball for his team six times, completed two dribbles, two tackles, and scored with his solitary shot on goal. His strike tonight takes him to seven league goals for the year, just three short of the 10 goals he scored in all of last season.

The German winger was one of the best players on the pitch against Liverpool and looked more threatening. It was his frightening turn of pace that unsettled Liverpool's watertight defense, who hadn't conceded more than one goal in the league this season.

#4 Andrew Robertson in the best left-back in England

Robertson set up Firmino's equalizer at the 64th minute in a brilliant move

Andrew Robertson is hitting new peaks in his top-flight career every time he steps onto the pitch for Liverpool, putting in one commanding performance after the other and tonight was no different as he harried Sterling and Danilo.

The Brazilian was left bamboozled by the Scotsman's pace and control, as he superbly brought down Alexander Arnold's crossfield pass into the path of Bobby Firmino, who was left with a simple tap-in past his compatriot Ederson, who could do nothing about it.

Robertson's excellent performances deserve recognition as he is hands down the most consistent left-back in the Premier League this season and at 24, he can only get better.

#5 City's strength in depth amazes again

Manchester City has perhaps the most impressive squad in English football.

Manchester City's ability to march on forward and follow their coach's gameplan despite the absence of de Bruyne, Walker, Maharez, or Gündoğan in the starting XI was amazing on the night. Pep Guardiola has built a squad of players who all know their roles perfectly and are capable of filling in at several different roles if the need ever arises.

City has spent most of this campaign without arguably their best player, Kevin De Bruyne, who's faced several major injury concerns this year. Other than in recent fixtures such as the defeats to Chelsea or Crystal Palace, City have not looked like they've missed him too much as Bernardo Silva has stepped up and filled his role.

De Bruyne wasn't fit enough to start while Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus were named on the bench. Their squad depth is simply amazing.