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Champions League | Quarter-Finals
Apr 10, 2018 at 7.45pm UK
 
LL

1-2

Jesus (2')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Salah (56'), Firmino (77')

Live Commentary: Manchester City 1-2 (1-5 on aggregate) Liverpool - as it happened

:Headline: Live Commentary: Manchester City 1-2 (1-5 on aggregate) Liverpool - as it happened: ID:323171: from db_amp
Relive Sports Mole's live coverage as Liverpool progress past Manchester City to reach the Champions League semi-finals.

Liverpool have progressed through to the Champions League semi-finals after overcoming Manchester City in Tuesday's clash at the Etihad Stadium.

Jurgen Klopp's side held a 3-0 advantage from the first leg, but Gabriel Jesus reduced the deficit within two minutes, leaving Liverpool defending nervously for much of the remainder of the first half.

However, after City wrongly had a goal ruled out for offside, Liverpool capitalised as Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino found the back of the net to put their club through to the last four for the first time since 2008.

Find out how all of the action unfolded in the North-West courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.

Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final between Manchester City and Liverpool. The Merseyside giants hold a 3-0 advantage after the first game at Anfield, but can Premier League leaders City pull off what would be one of the most famous comebacks in the competition's history? Let's see who features in the respective starting lineups...
MANCHESTER CITY XI: Ederson; Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva, Sane, Sterling, Bernardo, Jesus

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Bravo, Aguero, Kompany, Foden, Gundogan, Zinchenko, Delph

LIVERPOOL XI: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Lovren, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Mane, Salah, Firmino

LIVERPOOL SUBSTITUTES: Mignolet, Clyne, Moreno, Klavan, Solanke, Ings, Woodburn

Let's start with the home side as Pep Guardiola makes four changes to the team which began the derby defeat to Manchester United. The biggest surprise is arguably the inclusion of Gabriel Jesus, who is picked ahead of Sergio Aguero.
Vincent Kompany has dropped out of the side with Aymeric Laporte being recalled, while Kyle Walker is back for Danilo. With no recognised left-back, it appears that Guardiola is going to go with three at the back.
As expected, Kevin De Bruyne is brought back into the midfield with Ilkay Gundogan having to make do with a place among the replacements. Given the task ahead of City, it was probably either Gundogan or Bernardo Silva for the final place in the starting lineup and it's Bernardo who has got the nod.
Aside from Danilo who is injured, each of the dropped players feature on the bench alongside the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Phil Foden. Zinchenko could potentially be used later in the match if Guardiola feels that his team need a better balance.
The Liverpool team news has revolved around Mohamed Salah in recent days and the Egyptian has been risked by Jurgen Klopp. We say risk because the winger's groin injury was bad enough to keep him out of the Merseyside derby at the weekend. It will be interesting to see how the club's top goalscorer copes this evening.
Klopp has made a total of five alterations, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Roberto Firmino all being brought back into the team. Georginio Wijnaldum has been tipped to replace the suspended Jordan Henderson in front of the back four.
As far as the bench is concerned, Nathaniel Clyne features having been restored to the club's Champions League squad before the knockout stages. There had been a doubt over Alberto Moreno after the Spaniard pulled out of the squad against Everton, but he is also named among the replacements.
Danny Ings and Dominic Solanke are also included and Klopp may have to call upon at least one of them if Liverpool find themselves needing goals later in the match. However, neither of the duo have scored this season. Ben Woodburn is also fit enough to be named in the 18-man squad.
This match isn't the only Champions League encounter taking place this evening. Over in Italy, Roma are looking to pull off an unlikely comeback against Barcelona but Edin Dzeko's away goal at Camp Nou does give his club a glimmer of hope. You can follow that contest by clicking here.
Let's focus on this game now, however. There's no doubting that City are still capable of progressing through to the last four of this competition but Guardiola has attempted to play their hopes down, claiming that 'a perfect performance' is required. Click here to read the Spaniard's thoughts.
Forward Gabriel Jesus has also moved to suggest that he and his teammates should not forget each of their positive performances earlier this season, despite two potentially damaging setbacks against Liverpool and United. He has probably got a point.
City have lost twice in 23 matches at the Etihad this season and they also hold an excellent record at home in Europe. Nine wins and three draws have been recorded from their last 13 games, with the only defeat coming when a much-changed side faced Basel in the last 16.
Guardiola also possesses a stellar record when it comes to knockout ties in this competition. Only once in his career has Guardiola lost both legs of a tie in the latter stages, which came with Bayern Munich against Real Madrid in the 2013-14 semi-finals.
City are able to include Aguero in the squad tonight who has already scored 30 goals in all competitions this season. However, the Argentine has just one strike in his last five outings. Maybe it is not just his fitness which has led to a place on the bench?
That said, it has truly been a team effort in Europe. As many as nine players have contributed at least two goals or assists in this year's competition.
Guardiola has also used as many as 25 players across nine matches. City have played a couple of games which have carried less meaning but still, it's enabled the Spaniard to give opportunities to all of his squad.
Liverpool will have to place most of their focus on defending this evening but Van Dijk has claimed that his side cannot afford to sit back and wait for City's attacks. Click here to see what the Dutchman has had to say.
Club legend Phil Thompson has also suggested that Liverpool must look to score an away goal this evening and admits that he is wary of a comeback from a free-scoring City side.
Much has been made of City's attacking prowess but Liverpool have scored the most goals in this competition with 31. Only Manchester United - in 2002-03 - have ever netted more.
Seven of those efforts have been assisted by James Milner, who has created the most goals in this year's competition. You would not have predicted that at the start of the season.
Liverpool are looking to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2007-08. Back then, Liverpool defeated another English team in Arsenal by a 5-3 scoreline on aggregate.
PREDICTION! Liverpool may hold a clear advantage but it surely won't be that simple for Klopp's side, will it? We are backing City to get the goals that they require to make this competitive, but Liverpool have the firepower to net what should be a pivotal away goal. City to win 4-1 on the night.
HEAD TO HEAD! Tonight's contest will be the 210th meeting between the clubs, with Liverpool claiming 103 victories in comparison to 54 wins for City.
Since the start of 2014, the teams have met on 11 occasions and Liverpool have prevailed in seven of them. However, City have only lost one of the last five contests staged at the Etihad Stadium.
In the corresponding Premier League fixture in September, City ran out 5-0 winners but only after Sadio Mane had been dismissed during the first half. Click here to read back on that match.
It's time for the two teams to make their way out to a sea of flags and noise. We would not have expected anything less. This feels like one of those European nights where anything can happen.
A reminder of the two teams...

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Ederson; Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva, Sane, Sterling, Bernardo, Jesus

LIVERPOOL XI: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Lovren, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Mane, Salah, Firmino

KICKOFF! It's City who get us underway. Game on!
City win an early free kick on the right and De Bruyne's delivery causes all sorts of problems before the ball is scrambled clear. Maybe a sign of things to come.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Liverpool (Gabriel Jesus)
This is an absolute disaster for Liverpool. Van Dijk - on two occasions - stops because he thinks that he deserves to be awarded a free kick but the whistle doesn't come and City capitalise. The ball is sprayed through to Sterling, who passes inside to Jesus to produce the first-time finish into the bottom corner from 12 yards.
Already, this is turning into attack versus defence. Liverpool have to be very careful here because they are in danger of being over-run. In all fairness to Van Dijk, he probably deserved a free kick but he should not have stopped to claim for it.
As you can imagine, the crowd are feeding off City's positive start and it feels like this is going to be a long evening for Liverpool. They need to get a foot on the ball.
SHOT! More positive play from City leads to De Bruyne being teed up on the edge of the area but the Belgian's long-range strike goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
Nearly a chance for Liverpool. Alexander-Arnold's cross into the penalty area is superb, but a teammate cannot get on the end of it. The first signs that Liverpool are starting to settle down.
The Liverpool front three are playing very high up the pitch with the aim of restricting the time that the City defence are able to spend on the ball. It is leaving plenty of space in the middle.
BOOKINGS! Mane slips and ends up going in studs first on Otamendi. Lightning looks like it was going to strike twice, but the referee gives out a yellow. Ederson also goes into the book for chasing after Mane, pushing him four times and reminding him about what happened in September.
Moments later, Lovren stupidly slides into a challenge with Sterling and is not fast enough. It's a free kick to City on the byline.
City choose to tee up Sane on the edge of the penalty area but the effort is scuffed before it is deflected wide for a corner. Nothing comes from the set piece.
This is one-way traffic again now. City are swarming Liverpool and the ball ends up being crossed into the penalty area on four separate occasions in less than a minute. Liverpool survive, just, but it's not pretty.
Another corner for City with Alexander-Arnold having to slide in to dispossess Sane. The full-back had the better of their battle last week but the German is all over him tonight.
City must have had at least 80% of possession during the opening quarter. Liverpool are having to work extremely hard off the ball. It will be an achievement if they make half time without conceding a second.
Klopp has just discussed a change with Milner but we are yet to see what that is. Liverpool appear to be keeping with the three in attack but they just aren't seeing any of the ball.
SHOT! Some composed play from Bernardo Silva sees the ball played to De Bruyne on the edge of the penalty area, but the midfielder's first-time effort goes straight at Karius.
BOOKING! Alexander-Arnold goes into the book for what was effectively a clothesline on Sane.
BOOKING! Bernardo Silva follows him into the book for complaining that a penalty wasn't awarded for handball against Milner. The Portuguese's shot struck the Liverpool midfielder at point-blank range. Definitely no penalty.
City are beginning to up the tempo again and Liverpool are becoming increasingly nervy at the back. Liverpool really do need half time.
Liverpool manage to win a corner up the other end but Salah's delivery does not beat the first man. They need to do more with opportunities like that.
BOOKING! Firmino becomes the fifth player to receive a yellow card after cynically halting a City counter-attack by tripping De Bruyne.
Alexander-Arnold is getting caught out with regularity this evening. For all of the credit he received last week, his lack of experience is being exposed tonight. Sane is having a field day but so far, his end product has been below par.
Liverpool have had a couple of flurries forward since the half-hour mark but they have not come close to getting a potentially pivotal goal. We should remember that one Liverpool goal would leave City needing five.
CHANCE! Bernardo is also causing problems for Robertson on the opposite flank but after twisting and turning, his well-struck shot is deflected just wide of the far post.
SHOT! Finally, a shot on goal from Liverpool, but after a well-constructed move, Oxlade-Chamberlain shoots far too close to Ederson from distance.
WOODWORK! What a strike! Bernardo cuts inside onto his left foot before drilling a stunning shot off the far post from 20 yards. Karius had no chance with that.
City have the ball in the net through Sane who finishes from close range but the assistant has flagged for offside. However, the ball appeared to come off a Liverpool player before it went into his path. As far as we are concerned, it should have stood.
CHANCE! Almost an equaliser for Liverpool! Oxlade-Chamberlain combines beautifully with Salah before rounding Ederson, but the angle is too tight and his shot goes over the bar.
HALF TIME: Manchester City 1-0 Liverpool
The half-time whistle goes at the Etihad Stadium and City lead thanks to that early Jesus goal. Liverpool have done superbly to get to the break without conceding a second, but they have been very fortunate! Excellent half of football.
City's goal came after less than 120 seconds. Van Dijk spent too much time claiming for a free kick and when it wasn't given, Liverpool were exposed. Two passes later and the ball arrived at the feet of Jesus, who slotted into the bottom corner from 12 yards out.
We are not too sure how City are not further ahead. Bernardo Silva was desperately unlucky to hit the post after a slight deflection off Lovren, while Sane's close-range effort was wrongly adjudged to have been offside .
Liverpool's one real chance fell to Oxlade-Chamberlain at the end of the first half but while it was a missed chance, Klopp will be more than satisfied having reached the break no worse than 1-0 behind.
KICKOFF! Liverpool get us back underway.
It looks like Guardiola has been sent to the stands for his complaints about the goal. The Spaniard had every reason to be unhappy.
Well Liverpool have started this second half much better than they did the first! The visitors are having more of the ball, too, which needs to become a theme of the next 45 minutes if they are to avoid scares at the other end of the pitch.
Both sets of players are throwing themselves theatrically to the floor in the hope that the referee awards more free kicks and gives out more bookings. The five cautions in the first half have set the tone.
Liverpool have progressed through these first seven minutes without much alarm. The crowd are booing every touch from a visiting player and it will be music to the ears of Klopp.
Almost an opening for Liverpool as Alexander-Arnold breaks into the penalty area but Sane gets back to make the intervention.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool (Mohamed Salah)
Is that the goal which ends this tie as a contest? Mane breaks into the penalty area and should get a penalty when Fernandinho brings him down. However, the ball rolls into the path of Salah who dinks the ball into the far corner with only a defender on the line. City need four of they are going out of the Champions League.

What do City do now? They've not been far off all-out attack but they really do need to throw men forward in the final half hour.
SHOT! The atmosphere is considerably flatter now. Liverpool still have work to do but City have the biggest mountain to climb. De Bruyne has just fired straight at Karius.
City have also won a corner over the past few minutes but Liverpool are matching their ambition in the final third and could easily find a second here.
BOOKING! Van Dijk goes into the book for a coming together with Sterling but the centre-back does very little wrong. Sterling has got the rub of the green against the Dutchman tonight.
SUBSTITUTION! A first change for City sees Aguero introduced for David Silva.
With 22 minutes left, this tie feels over. Klopp could probably rest the likes of Salah now but the Liverpool boss is opting against it for now.
SHOT! Laporte decides to try his luck from 25 yards out and he almost finds the top corner thanks to a deflection from Lovren. Fortunately for the Liverpool player, the ball went just over.
Liverpool still look very lively on the counter. Klopp's men are not satisfied with time on the ball. I can still see them getting a second in this match.
SUBSTITUTION! A second change for City sees Gundogan replace Bernardo Silva.
City are still probing but for all of their possession, the clear-cut opportunities have been few and far between. That said, there is no doubting that the wrongly disallowed goal has changed this match.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-2 Liverpool (Roberto Firmino)
Tie over, if it wasn't already. Otamendi loses the ball on the touchline and after Firmino opts to go it alone rather than pass to Salah, the Brazilian finds the inside of the far post from 12 yards.
Almost inevitably, we are going to see some changes for Liverpool. Klopp can afford to rest who he likes.
SUBSTITUTIONS! Clyne and Klavan are on in place of Alexander-Arnold and Firmino.
Forget about this game, it is all happening at the Stadio Olimpico. Roma lead Barcelona by a 3-0 scoreline and are currently on course to progress on away goals! Click here to follow the closing stages.
Just the five minutes to go now. Very little is happening with Liverpool happy to see out the remainder of the game by putting everyone behind the ball.
A word on Salah. There have been no signs of a groin injury and he is continuing to chase down every ball. He's a class act.
SUBSTITUTION! Salah gets his standing ovation too. Ings replaces him with a minute of normal time remaining.
There will be two minutes of added-on time.
FULL TIME: Manchester City 1-2 Liverpool
The full-time whistle goes at the Etihad Stadium and Liverpool have booked their place in the Champions League semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Manchester City, giving them a 5-1 triumph on aggregate. That's not it, however. Roma have knocked out Barcelona! City and Barcelona - the two favourites for the competition - out on the same night. Blimey.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon.

If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.

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