Vincent Kompany betrayed his reputation as the Premier League’s top defender when he made a high-profile error in Manchester City’s 3-2 defeat against Liverpool on Sunday.
The game was tied at 2-2 in the 78th minute, when Manchester City defender Gael Clichy headed a throw-in backwards toward Kompany. The Manchester City captain tried to boot it upfield but missed, setting up Liverpool’s third goal.
Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho pounced on the errant ball and took a first-time shot, which beat goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Coutinho’s goal was the game-winner, as Liverpool withstood Manchester City’s second-half comeback and prevailed.
Kompany was playing through pain on Sunday. The Belgian stopper limped out of practice on Saturday after suffering an apparent leg injury. He passed a pregame fitness test Sunday, but performed at a lower level than he normally does.
Raheem Sterling outwitted Kompany on Liverpool’s first goal. Kompany was marking Martin Skrtel at the beginning of the sequence which lead to Liverpool’s second. Kompany then made this calamitous error with the game on the line in the second half.
While Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini didn’t single out Kompany for blame after the game, the rest of the soccer world did.
See Kompany’s mistake and Coutinho’s goal below.
Click to relive Liverpool’s victory over Manchester City>>
Click for Kompany’s comical own goal against Fulham last December>>
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GIF via Reddit
