Ilkay Gundogan Continues Manchester City’s Penalty Curse Against Liverpool

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.

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

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.

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.)

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.