Liverpool dug deep to edge past champions Manchester City on Sunday, but reports of ugly scenes has cast a shadow over an otherwise enthralling afternoon of football.
With little under 15 minutes remaining, Alisson launched a breathtaking kick towards Mohamed Salah who had only Joao Cancelo to beat with City’s entire defensive line past the half way line.
In typical fashion the three-time Golden Boot winner, who is 50/1 to add a fourth in football betting, calmly dispatched the chance to send Anfield into raptures and hand his side just their third win of the season.
While a joyous victory for the home side, reports of unsavoury scenes witnessed throughout the game have left a sour taste in one of the biggest games of the season.
City manager Pep Guardiola, who was caught stirring up the Anfield faithful in the footage below, said coins were thrown in his direction after Phil Foden had a goal ruled out by VAR.
Guardiola truly a bad loser pic.twitter.com/2vFkoqgJm5
— ahmed baokbah 🇸🇦🏎✈️ (@ahmed_baokbah) October 16, 2022
“The crowd tried but they didn’t touch me,” Guardiola said in a post-match interview. “Maybe next time they will be better.”
Elsewhere, Sunday’s victors have also released a statement condemning vile chants emanating from the away supporters, with references to the Hillsborough tragedy thought to be have been the subject matter.
“We are deeply disappointed to hear vile chants relating to football stadium tragedies from the away section during today’s game at Anfield. The concourse in the away section was also vandalised with graffiti of a similar nature,” the club said in a statement.
“We know the impact such behaviour has on the families, survivors and all those associated with such disasters.
“We are working with the relevant authorities and we will also work with Manchester City in order to do our utmost to ensure these chants are eradicated from football altogether.”
Merseyside police have also confirmed they are working alongside Liverpool to investigate offensive graffiti found in the away section following the game, as well as determining where coins were thrown from by scouring CCTV.
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