Anfield played host to the Premier League’s headline clash of the weekend as Liverpool welcomed Manchester City in a high-stakes showdown. Drama was guaranteed — and it delivered — with City edging a tense 2-1 victory, but the spotlight quickly shifted to one player whose performance sparked fierce debate.

Pressure on Both Sides 🔥

Liverpool entered the contest chasing Champions League qualification, sitting sixth and four points off Chelsea in the race for Europe. Arne Slot’s men knew a statement win was needed.

Manchester City, meanwhile, arrived under serious pressure. Arsenal’s victory the previous day had opened a nine-point gap at the top, leaving Pep Guardiola’s side with little margin for error. Anything less than three points at Anfield would have felt like a major setback.

Szoboszlai Magic… Then City’s Late Twist 🎯

The game burst into life when Dominik Szoboszlai curled in a sensational free-kick to give Liverpool the lead, sending Anfield into chaos. For a moment, it looked like that strike might be the difference.

But City refused to fold. Bernardo Silva dragged the visitors level late on, before chaos erupted in stoppage time. Alisson Becker brought down Matheus Nunes inside the box, and Erling Haaland calmly converted the resulting penalty to complete the turnaround.

There was still time for one last twist. Rayan Cherki thought he had sealed it with a late third goal, but VAR intervened — disallowing the strike and showing Szoboszlai a red card in the process.

Fans Turn on Rodri 😬

Despite City celebrating the win, attention quickly shifted to Rodri. The reigning Ballon d’Or winner endured a difficult evening, struggling to impose himself in midfield as he once routinely did.

Statistically, it was a rare off-day. He surrendered possession multiple times, was beaten in duels, and even made a costly mistake that led to a Liverpool chance. While not a total collapse, it was far from the commanding display fans have come to expect.

Supporters from both sides — and neutrals — were stunned. Social media quickly filled with harsh verdicts, with many questioning whether Rodri has lost a step. Some City fans even called for Guardiola to substitute him, pointing to how often he was pressed and overrun during the match.

A Sign of Decline… or Just One Bad Night? 🤔

City got the result they desperately needed, but the conversation after full-time wasn’t just about the scoreline. For the first time in a long while, serious doubts are being raised about Rodri’s dominance in big games.

Was this just an off day at Anfield — or the beginning of a worrying trend? 👀🔥

Stay tuned… because this debate is far from over.