Reds Shock Citizens 3-0 In Europe

Sports - Football - Champions League - LFC 3:0 MCFC

Liverpool swept Premier League leaders Manchester City aside 3-0 at Anfield, all goals scored in a breathtaking opening 31 minutes, stunning Pep Guardiola's men in their first leg Champions League quarter-final clash on Wednesday night.

Top scorer Mohamed Salah opened the scoring after 12 minutes, pouncing on the rebound from close range after City keeper Ederson denied man of the match Roberto Firmino, netting his 38th goal of the season, ninth in Europe.

Eight minutes later, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain doubled the Reds' lead with a smacker of a strike past Ederson from 20 yards out, James Milner the provider for a record seventh assist in the competition, three more than any other player.

And Sadio Mané completed the dream-start and made it three heading in Salah's cross with just over half an hour gone, making it seven goals in the last eight games for the Senegalese. Pep's face said it all, the Citizens just did not have a clue what hit them.

These three goals brought Liverpool's total in the Champions League to 31, making them the top scoring side this season and recording their biggest tally ever in a single season in the European Cup.

The buildup was massive, the atmosphere was breathtaking, the visitors were not allowed to get a touch on the ball without Jürgen Klopp's men swarming them and the Kop booing them, City sub and former Red Raheem Sterling especially getting it after coming on later on in the game.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson did a brilliant job blocking and denying any chances for the opposition on the wings, frustrating the hell out of Gabriel Jesus, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sané and leaving Loris Karius with not much to do.

That was the main difference to their last clash in the league, a seven-goal thriller where the Reds ended up on top as well, the clarity and control of the win = clean sheet for the Reds. This time the Citizens did not get anything back, not even a glance back into goal nor the match.

The Sky Blues failed to record a single shot on target for the entire game for the first time since 26th October 2016 (against Manchester United in the League Cup) despite enjoying much more possession after the break.

Their Catalan boss has only enjoyed one win in his last six meetings with Klopp in all competitions (D2 L3), the 5-0 thrash at the Etihad last September, with the German registering more wins against Pep than any other manager (= six).

The Merseysiders meanwhile remain unbeaten at home in Europe since October 2014 (0-3 against Real Madrid), extending their run without defeat to 15 matches at Anfield (W10 D5).

The only bad news for Liverpool were Salah's injury, which saw him being replaced by Georginio Wijnaldum just eight minutes after the interval, and Jordan Henderson's suspension, the captain's late booking seeing him suspended for the second leg at the Etihad next week.

It was an unforgettable night at Anfield, but like Klopp said, it is only half-time. Nothing is decided yet. We will see next Tuesday who will make it into the Champions League semi-final.

But the Reds will first have to travel to Goodison Park on Saturday, where they will meet Everton in the Premier League Merseyside derby lunch-time kick-off. The Toffees will be hoping and praying a certain Egyptian will stay out.

Liverpool Goals: Salah 12', Oxlade-Chamberlain 20' & Mané 31'.

Match Stats: LFC 3-0 MCFC
Possession: 34%-66%
Shots: 9-11
On target: 5-0
Corners: 0-8
Fouls: 6-10
Yellow cards: 1-4

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius; 26 Robertson, 4 van Dijk, 6 Lovren, 66 Alexander-Arnold; 7 Milner, 14 Henderson (c) (booked 86'), 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain (18 Moreno 85'); 19 Mané, 9 Firmino (29 Solanke 71'), 11 Salah (5 Wijnaldum 53'). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 2 Clyne, 22 Mignolet, 28 Ings, 63 Masterson.

Man City Team: 31 Ederson; 14 Laporte, 4 Kompany (c), 30 Otamendi (booked 45'+3'), 2 Walker; 25 Fernandino, 17 De Bruyne (booked 80'); 19 Sané, 21 Silva, 8 Gündogan (7 Sterling 57' (booked 90'+2')); 33 de Jesus (booked 76'). 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 1 Bravo, 3 Danilo, 5 Stones, 18 Delph, 20 Silva, 35 Zinchenko.

Referee: Dr Felix Brych (GER)
Man of the match: Roberto Firmino
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 50,685

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Sky Sports app, Twitter and beIN sports coverage.