premier league
After top game: media praise for Salah, criticism of the circumstances
Liverpool fans present their scarves in support and hold a banner with a portrait of manager Jurgen Klopp. photo
© Jon Super/AP/dpa
Liverpool FC and goalscorer Mohamed Salah have received plenty of praise after a strong 1-0 home win against champions Manchester City.
Liverpool FC and goalscorer Mohamed Salah have received plenty of praise after a strong 1-0 home win against champions Manchester City.
However, British media criticized the aggressive atmosphere in the stadium during the Premier League’s top game, which the Telegraph called the “Battle of Anfield”. The German city professional Ilkay Gündogan expressed his disappointment at the defeat of his team.
“We missed two good chances and made it easy for them to score goals,” Gündogan said self-critically. However, the game on Sunday fulfilled all expectations. “These are the two best English teams and maybe the two best teams in Europe in recent years. Of course it would be intense and aggressive, also with the crowd here.”
“A sensational but stormy duel,” wrote the “Mirror” after the game, which became particularly heated in the second half. “Chaos in the big game,” summed up the “Daily Mail” and praised the “magic moment” from Mohamed Salah, who scored the winning goal in the 76th minute. “Animosity between Liverpool and Manchester City erupted again yesterday.”
Liverpool FC had strongly condemned after the game that chants were heard in the away block alluding to the Heysel and Hillsborough stadium disasters of the 1980s and that City fans had daubed stadium walls. City coach Pep Guardiola, on the other hand, complained that Liverpool fans had thrown coins at him. “Salah shocks City, but the game is overshadowed by coin tosses and vile chants,” the Daily Express noted. Liverpool had already announced on Sunday evening that they would investigate the incidents closely.