Liverpool and Manchester City met each other in a potential six pointer at Anfield in the last match of 2016, as both sides looked to keep up with runaway leaders Chelsea after their 4-2 win over Stoke City earlier in the day.
It was a scrappy affair on Saturday night though, as fatigue of the festive season fixtures started setting in. However, Liverpool did manage to get the better of Manchester City, with Georginio Wijnaldum heading in the only goal of the match from Adam Lallana’s cross early on in the game.
The remainder of the match saw both sides carve out half chances at best, as it continued to be a midfield battle with players on either side struggling to cope with fatigue of playing intense games just a few days ago.
Here are the best tweets from a scrappy, yet captivating encounter at Anfield:
? HAPPY NEW YEAR! ?#LIVMCI pic.twitter.com/KiSASCYzWs
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 31, 2016
FT | Liverpool 1-0 City
2016 ends in defeat at Anfield. #lfcvcity #mcfc pic.twitter.com/ajcgsMTCGt
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 31, 2016
? One from the dressing room courtesy of Dejan! #LIVMCI pic.twitter.com/Q58e3P0zLe
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 31, 2016
Liverpool end 2016 on a high and in 2nd position, 6 points behind Chelsea #LIVMCI pic.twitter.com/BRiS6GieiF
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 31, 2016
Great win @LFC Happy New Year! ⚽️ #LIVMCI
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) December 31, 2016
Hands off Pep, second place in the final Premier League table of 2016 belongs to Liverpool #LFC pic.twitter.com/lXcrB6uUNy
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) December 31, 2016
Here’s what the statsmen had to say about the match between Liverpool and Manchester City:
Liverpool 1-0 Man City FT:
Shots: 5-9
Possession: 48%-52%
Chances created: 5-6
Pass accuracy: 71%-81%Big win for Jurgen Klopp’s men. pic.twitter.com/HVHpjZ6ZZp
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 31, 2016
0 – Sergio Aguero didn’t have a single touch of the ball in the Liverpool box in his 90 minute appearance today. Stifled.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 31, 2016
DWDWWDWDWWDWWWDWW
Liverpool are loving life at Anfield right now. ? #AllTheFootball pic.twitter.com/vi7Cx0Mcxe
— Virgin Media (@virginmedia) December 31, 2016
Roberto Firmino has made 4 interceptions, won 4 aerial duels and attempted 5 tackles vs. Man City so far.
Doing the dirty work. pic.twitter.com/as250cLFy2
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 31, 2016
.@GWijnaldum: Man of the Match vs Manchester City @LFC #LIVMCI pic.twitter.com/cDii1ZHarc
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) December 31, 2016
Successful first-half take-ons:
Silva: 0
Toure: 0
Mane: 0
Lallana: 0
Wijnaldum: 0
Mignolet: 1 pic.twitter.com/vrf7BUShTp— FourFourTweet (@FourFourTweet) December 31, 2016
Fans from both sides had their say as well:
Well done Liverpool. 4th win in a row, 43 points, 2nd on the table and a clean sheet. Happy New Year pic.twitter.com/0vG0WdphCK
— LFCMostar (@LFCMostar) December 31, 2016
Liverpool are still unbeaten every matchday I’ve eaten a sausage sandwich!
— Indigo ? (@IndigoLFC) December 31, 2016
Quite a battle today, but an important win at the Fortress of Anfield after a short rest. And a clean sheet! #LIVMCI #LFC
— Linda Pizzuti Henry (@Linda_Pizzuti) December 31, 2016
It’s high time to admit @ManCity that this whole #claudiobravo thing is not working , loosing Joe Hart contract was poor decisions
— Chaitanya_MR (@chaitanya_mr) December 31, 2016
Underwhelming #LIVMCI match but enough to demonstrate #Guardiola is not the man to deliver @ManCity the #PremierLeague
Never thought he was— Anand Sivashankar (@ggmarquez) December 31, 2016
What a great way to end the year #LIVMCI
— Jeet Matharu (@AdOpSys) December 31, 2016
in my stevie g kit sippin coffee what could be bad?!?! when the reds win we all win lets go#WTRWWAW #YNWA #LFC #LIVMCI @TheAnfieldWrap
— FML FPL (@FMLFPL) December 31, 2016
James Milner really is a brilliant guy. Would love to buy him a drink. Knows what it means to play for Liverpool.
— – (@AnfieldRd96) December 31, 2016
Guardiola happens to be Klopp’s daily bread. #LIVMCI
— THE LUCKY ONE (@LUCKY_MTHOMBENI) December 31, 2016
The best way to celebrate new year with singing you’ll never walk alone song. #YNWA #LIVMCI #lfc
— emillia (@emysenpai) December 31, 2016
#Guardiola is a top manger but he has always managed the most prestigious side in that country @ManCity is a totally different ball game
— Keith Anastassiades (@33wolfman) December 31, 2016
Some of the Liverpool fans reserved special mention for former starlet Raheem Sterling as well, and not in a good way:
Visual representation of Milner dominating sterling that half pic.twitter.com/jylqyNe1US
— MAGI (@King_Ash97) December 31, 2016
I said to Raheem Sterling You must still be full of energy. He said Why? I said Because you’ve spent the whole first half in my back pocket.
— Boring James Milner (@BoringMilner) December 31, 2016
Always known James Milner was a nice guy but I didn’t realise how nice.
He’s given Raheem Sterling an extended stay in his pocket that half
— Deluded Brendan (@DeludedBrendan) December 31, 2016
Sterling highlights from the first half, featuring Milner and Henderson. pic.twitter.com/Q2mgnqzI9e
— LFC Fans Corner (@LFCFansCorner) December 31, 2016
When Milner gets home and empties his pocket, he will find his car keys, wallet & Raheem Sterling.. Muahahahha
— Zarif Nashriq (@Zarif_Nashriq) December 31, 2016
To be fair, Milner looked a bit sluggish tonight…. Probably the weight of Sterling in his pocket, slowing him down! ?
— LFC_Tonks (@LFC_Tonks) December 31, 2016
James Milner must have a lot of sterling in his pockets
— Ryan Cuthbertson (@Ryancuthbrtson) December 31, 2016