With the freaky goal gods once again smiling on the stuffy Scousers it was up to City to make sure they kept up with the pace when they faced managerless Huddersfield Town yesterday.
City fielded a strongish looking side designed to win the match without busting a gut, but not one that would be likely to slip up. Danilo kept his place at left back, Fernandinho started and the Silvas were kept under wraps as Gundogan and De Bruyne took up the 8 & 10 slots. Sergio Aguero made a welcome return to the starting berths although it meant leaving out de Jesus, a goal magnet in recent matches.
The Blues set off meaning business and the first half only minutes old when Sterling was chopped down in the box. Unlike Mole Salad who doesn’t need to be touched to get a penalty, Raheem , despite a full-on foul under the noses of the ref and assistant, could get the correct decision. We know that the Cheating Egyptian was frowned upon by Jon Moss a day sooner, but this was no occasion to tar Raheem Sterling with the same brush of deceit.
The first half, equally, wasn’t half way through when Danilo thumped one from outside the box, it deflected off Schindler and deceived Lossl to open the scoring. This was City’s 100th goal in all competitions so far this season and it was no more than City deserved. But it appeared to signal an air of complacency as the Blues lost their way a bit, let the Terriers off the hook a bit and failed to capitalise against a team playing in numbers at the back and little ambition up top.
Getting to the break only 0-1 adrift lifted the division’s basement team but it was short-lives at Leroy Sane put the hammer down in the second half. Ten minutes in some neat work down the left saw a De Bruyne arrow select the German, maybe a whisker offside, but his cross along the six yard went behind the defensive line and on to the head of Sterling, getting his just rewards for his persistence.
Two minutes later Sane again destroyed the home defence, sliding home easily to conclude the scoring. Although the Blues did offer up a couple of late chances to Huddersfield the outcome of this match was never in doubt.
Over the next couple of matches the tables turn slightly as City play before Liverpool and if they can narrow the gap to one point it places additional pressure on the league leaders who may just be starting to feel the heat.
In the disgusting diving Salah we see similarities with Ronaldo, Drogba, Hazard and who knows how many ex-Gooners who stuck their noses into the grass just too easily. Why don’t these people get on with their brand of football without cheating. The sooner the Pharaoh of Formby is found out, carded and ultimately banned the better.
It’s a week of cup ties for City while the Scouser take it easy for 10 days. The second leg of the so far 9-0 aggregate against Burton Albion followed by a good kicking against Burnley before playing the Mags away next Tuesday.
