Ilkay Gundogan blazed a first-half penalty well over the bar, continuing Manchester City's trend of failing to convert from the spot against Liverpool.
The in-form Germany international was handed a chance to put City 1-0 up at Anfield after Raheem Sterling was brought down by Fabinho. However Gundogan got his foot under the ball and scooped it well over Alisson's crossbar.
:x: Fabinho fouls Sterling to give City a golden chance from the spot but Gundogan spanks his penalty over! An Anfield curse...
:tv: Watch on Sky Sports PL
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:calling: Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/63600REa5Q
- Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 7, 2021
At least Gundogan got the chance to make up for his error early in the second half, as he put the visitors 1-0 up. The City No 8 followed up Phil Foden's drive across the box - and this time Gundogan found the roof of the net that he was aiming for with the penalty
"This time Gundogan does put it in!" Advantage City! :microphone2:️
- Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 7, 2021
:tv: Watch on Sky Sports PL
:iphone: Follow #LIVMCI here: https://t.co/uVVJFt8M49
:calling: Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/ecpIww47dn
Ironically, Gundogan once offered advice on how to take a penalty, claiming: "Put your nose over your toes. So, make sure the ball is not going over the crossbar, you know?"
Oops. However Gundogan is far from the only City player to miss a penalty against Liverpool in recent times.
Gündogan needs to take his own advice :eyes: pic.twitter.com/XWkAjolrdk
- FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) February 7, 2021
Earlier this season at the Etihad, Kevin De Bruyne failed to convert from the spot as Liverpool earned a 1-1 draw.
In 2018, Riyad Mahrez wasted a glorious opportunity to give Man City a first win at Anfield in 15 years when he missed from the spot late in the game, the Premier League tie finishing 0-0.
So at least Gundogan is not alone in failing to make the most of a spot-kick when City face Liverpool. (And he quickly made up for his error, just four minutes into the second half.)
4 - Four of the last six penalties to have missed the target completely in the Premier League have been by Manchester City players, with three of those coming against Liverpool (Mahrez in October 2018, De Bruyne in November 2020 and Gündoğan today). Blazed. pic.twitter.com/F9xVAf2bde
- OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 7, 2021
Man City @premierleague penalties under Pep Guardiola:
- Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) February 7, 2021
38 taken, 25 scored (66% scored)
Rest of @premierleague in that time
421 taken, 332 scored (79% scored)
Man City v Liverpool in that time
4 taken, 1 scored (25% scored) pic.twitter.com/NCBgvnBvtk
Each of those City penalties missed the target, so it wasn't even a case of heroics from a Liverpool goalkeeper denying Pep Guardiola's side Premier League points.
Manchester City have scored one of their last four penalties against Liverpool: De Bruyne converting.
However a success rate of 25% is clearly well below what you'd expect from the spot, where the player taking the penalty is usually given around a 75% chance of finding the net.
Topics: Manchester City, Liverpool, Football News, Football, Ilkay Gundogan, Premier League
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