Manchester City have suffered another shocking defeat in match day number 19 of the English Premier League (EPL). It was their fifth defeat of the season and they failed to take the advantage of Leicester City’s defeat against table-toppers Liverpool.
Ten-man Manchester City gave up two-goal lead as they crashed to a 3-2 defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Friday to leave them 14 points adrift of Liverpool. The 89th minute winner from Matt Doherty means Liverpool have a 13 point lead over second-placed Leicester City, who they beat 4-0 on Thursday. Jurgen Klopp’s men have also played one match less due to their participation in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Wolves became just the second team to complete a league double over Pep Guardiola’s side courtesy of a 89th minute winner from Matt Doherty. The game had all the controversies in the world as City’s goal-keeper Ederson was sent off in the 12th minute after he raced out of his area and clipped Diogo Jota, who tumbled to the floor.
The VAR review backed referee Martin Atkinson’s decision but the system was soon back to familiar controversy when it awarded City a penalty. However, Wolves keeper Rui Patricio saved Raheem Sterling’s spot kick, but VAR spotted an encroachment in the area by Conor Coady who had cleared the loose ball and so the penalty had to be retaken again.
Patricio saved from Sterling this time, but the English winger drove home the rebound to put City in front. Sterling then doubled City’s lead with a composed finish after had been sent clear by a defence-splitting pass from the Beligum midfielder. The dramatic winner came in the 89th minute when Matt Doherty weaved his way through the City defence before poking a left-foot shot past Bravo.
Man City coach Pep Guardiola admitted after the final whistle that it was tough to compete with 10 against 11 for 80 minutes.
“Eighty minutes 10 against 11 is so tough, so demanding. We could not defend the result. We have to think of the next game and about winning our games. It’s unrealistic to think about (catching Liverpool). In 48 hours we have another game,” he said.
