Liverpool versus Manchester City always brings drama, tension, and emotion, but this latest meeting at Anfield delivered something deeper than just goals and controversy. It became a night where reputations were questioned, emotions ran high, and one of the Premier League’s most respected stars found himself at the center of brutal criticism. Manchester City left Anfield with a huge 2-1 victory that kept their title hopes alive, but the conversation after the final whistle was dominated not by Erling Haaland’s late penalty or Bernardo Silva’s equaliser, but by the shocking performance of Rodri, a player many now believe is no longer the same force he once was.
Before kickoff, the context alone made the match feel massive. Liverpool came into the game under pressure. Arne Slot’s first season has been full of challenges, and the Reds were sitting sixth in the table, four points behind Chelsea in the race for a Champions League place. For a club with Liverpool’s history and expectations, that position felt uncomfortable. Anfield demanded a response, and the players knew it.
Manchester City arrived with even bigger pressure. Arsenal had won the day before, moving nine points clear at the top of the table. Pep Guardiola’s side could not afford another slip-up. Their recent league form had been worrying, with just one win in their last six Premier League games before this clash. Another defeat, especially at Anfield, would have felt like the end of their title challenge. The stakes were enormous.
From the opening minutes, the game felt frantic. Liverpool pressed aggressively, feeding off the energy of the crowd. City tried to slow things down, passing the ball patiently, but they were clearly uncomfortable at times. The midfield battle was intense, and every touch was contested. This was not a match for passengers. Every player had to be sharp, focused, and brave.
Liverpool looked confident early on. They moved the ball quickly, attacked with purpose, and forced City into mistakes. The crowd roared with every tackle and interception. Manchester City, for all their quality, looked rattled in spells. They still had moments of control, but something felt off, especially in midfield.
Then came the moment that lit up Anfield. Liverpool won a free-kick in a dangerous position, and Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up. The Hungarian midfielder has become known for his powerful shooting, and as he stood over the ball, there was a sense that something special was coming. When he struck it, the ball flew like a missile, bending past the wall and into the net. It was unstoppable. Anfield exploded with noise and belief. Liverpool were deservedly ahead.
For a while, it looked like Liverpool might ride that momentum to a famous win. They defended with discipline and attacked with confidence. Manchester City pushed forward, but Liverpool held firm. Alisson made important saves, and the defense stayed compact. Every minute that passed increased the tension.
However, Manchester City are not a team that goes away quietly. Pep Guardiola urged his players forward, demanding more intensity and movement. City began to find spaces, especially down the flanks, and the pressure on Liverpool started to grow. The game slowly tilted back in City’s favour.
The equaliser came late, in the 84th minute, and it was a classic City moment. Erling Haaland rose high to challenge for a header, using his physical presence to disrupt Liverpool’s defense. The ball dropped perfectly for Bernardo Silva, who reacted quickly and calmly slotted it past Alisson. The away end erupted. City were level, and suddenly Liverpool’s hard work felt fragile.
As the game moved into stoppage time, chaos followed. With seven minutes added on, both teams sensed a chance to win it. Liverpool pushed forward, urged on by the crowd, while City looked dangerous on the counter. Then came the decisive moment. Alisson rushed off his line and collided with Matheus Nunes near the byline. The referee pointed to the spot. Penalty to Manchester City.
The pressure was immense. Erling Haaland stepped up, knowing that this kick could define City’s season. He showed no fear. He struck the ball low and hard into the corner. Alisson guessed correctly but could not keep it out. City had turned the game around. 2-1.
There was still time for more drama. Rayan Cherki thought he had added a third goal with what looked like the final kick of the game, but VAR intervened. The goal was ruled out, and in a twist that added even more controversy, Dominik Szoboszlai was sent off. The whistle blew shortly after, ending a match full of emotion and talking points.
While Manchester City celebrated a vital win, the focus quickly shifted to one man in particular. Rodri. The Spanish midfielder, a Ballon d’Or winner in 2024 and long considered one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, had a night to forget. For years, Rodri has been the heartbeat of Guardiola’s City, the player who controls games, dictates tempo, and provides balance. At Anfield, that version of Rodri was nowhere to be seen.
From early on, it was clear that Rodri was struggling. Liverpool targeted him with their press, closing him down quickly and forcing mistakes. He looked slower than usual, less confident on the ball, and uncomfortable under pressure. He lost possession seven times, an unusually high number for a player known for his composure. He was dribbled past twice, something that rarely happens to him. One of his errors even led directly to a Liverpool shot.
In previous seasons, Rodri would dominate matches like this almost effortlessly. He would position himself perfectly, break up attacks, and start City’s moves with calm, accurate passes. At Anfield, he looked a step behind the game. The intensity seemed too much. The pace seemed too fast.
Fans noticed immediately. Social media exploded with reactions, many of them brutal. Some City supporters could not believe what they were seeing. Neutral fans were equally shocked. Liverpool fans, sensing weakness, piled on. Comments flooded in, calling Rodri “washed” and “beyond finished.” Some even described his performance as a “hall of shame.”
One fan wrote that Rodri was “actually washed,” expressing disbelief at how far he seemed from his best. Another said City would be crazy not to sign a new holding midfielder in the summer. Others went even further, calling him a liability and questioning whether he should still be starting in big games. One City fan openly begged Guardiola to take him off, saying Rodri could not handle the intensity and pointing out that he is statistically the most pressed player in the league this season.
These reactions might seem harsh, but they reflect how high the standards are for a player like Rodri. When you reach the level he has reached, anything less than excellence feels shocking. Fans expect him to be the calm in the storm, the player who thrives when pressure is highest. On this night, he did not meet those expectations.
It is important to say that this was not a completely disastrous performance. Rodri still worked hard, still tried to influence the game, and City ultimately won. But football is about moments, and in the biggest moments, Rodri looked vulnerable. That vulnerability raised serious questions.
Is this just one bad game, or is it a sign of something bigger? Some believe the warning signs have been there for a while. Rodri has played a huge number of games over the past few seasons, for club and country. The physical and mental demands have been enormous. Fatigue builds up, even for the best players in the world. The Premier League is unforgiving, and once intensity drops even slightly, opponents punish you.
Others argue that the system around him has changed. Manchester City are evolving, and Rodri is being asked to do more under pressure. Teams now target him deliberately, knowing how important he is to City’s structure. Liverpool executed that plan perfectly, pressing him relentlessly and denying him time on the ball.
There is also the age factor. While Rodri is not old, he is no longer the fresh-faced midfielder he once was. The game moves fast, and players must constantly adapt. What worked two years ago might not work now.
For Pep Guardiola, this situation creates a dilemma. Rodri has been one of his most trusted players, a cornerstone of his system. Dropping him would be a huge decision, one that could shake the dressing room. But ignoring the signs could be just as dangerous. Guardiola has always been ruthless when it comes to evolution. Even club legends have been moved on when he felt the time was right.
The win at Anfield keeps Manchester City alive in the title race, but it also exposes areas of concern. They showed resilience, character, and quality to come back and win in such a hostile environment. That should not be ignored. Haaland delivered when it mattered most. Bernardo Silva stepped up with a crucial goal. These are signs of champions.
For Liverpool, the defeat was painful but not without positives. They matched City for large periods, played with intensity and belief, and were unlucky not to get something from the game. Szoboszlai’s performance was outstanding, even if it ended in frustration. Anfield was loud, proud, and fully behind the team.
As the dust settles, the headlines will focus on Rodri and whether he is truly “beyond finished” or simply going through a rough patch. Football has a habit of moving quickly from hero to villain and back again. One great performance can silence critics just as fast as one bad performance can create them.
What is certain is that this match will be remembered not just for the goals and the drama, but for the moment when one of the Premier League’s most reliable stars looked human, vulnerable, and under serious scrutiny. Liverpool versus Manchester City once again delivered a story that will be talked about long after the final whistle, a story of pressure, legacy, and the brutal honesty of elite football.
