Good news and bad news for Liverpool as they take on defending champions Manchester City at Anfield. The good news is that they're winning 1-0, and it's been deserved. The bad news is that their best player is injured. Again.
Liverpool Vs. Manchester City: Halftime Score 1-0 To The Reds
Lucas Leiva managed just two minutes on the pitch before picking up what looked like a hamstring twinge. The midfielder tried to play on, hopping about in obvious discomfort, but playing through minor injuries is a good way to make them into major ones, and Brendan Rodgers was having none of it, pulling him off for Jonjo Shelvey.
Elsewhere it's been a fascinating and happily competitive match. Liverpool debutante Raheem Stirling, just 17, looks like he'll be a treat on the wing -- he's already set up a great chance for Fabio Borini, who fired wide from close range under heavy pressure from Aleksandar Kolarov.
At the other end of the pitch, Carlos Tevez came absurdly close to scoring one of the all-time great Premier League goals, squeezing past Pepe Reina well outside the six yard box and hitting the far post with a shot that essentially started from the goalline.
But it was the hosts who struck first, winning a corner after Vincent Kompany's left knee deflected a Steven Gerrard diagonal over the bar. Martin Skrtel made it count, beating Pablo Zabaleta and Kolarov in the air to power a header into the back of the net to make it 1-0 Liverpool.
And that’s how the first half ended. City have had most of the possession, but Liverpool have looked dangerous on the counterattack and have created more genuine chances. Deserved lead for the hosts, but we’ll see if they can keep it up.
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