'Miss won't affect confidence', says Mahrez

In a cagey but entertaining affair on Merseyside, Man City record-signing Riyad Mahrez spurned the only clear-cut chance of the match, a late penalty, to help City pick up what would have been their first win in 15 years at Anfield. 

Alas the Algerian, who never totally looked like scoring before taking the kick,  blasted his effort over the cross bar. When asked after the game if he was the designated penalty-taker, given regular Sergio Aguero's substitution, Mahrez declined to comment. 

However the Algerian was open to discussing his penalty record, saying: "I've missed a few, but it is part of football. You have to move forward and stay strong. No it won't affect my confidence at all. Everyone misses penalties - even big, big, big players."

Mahrez continued: "I took the decision to shoot and the ball went up. I have to look forward, it is part of football. Sometimes you score, sometimes you miss. But the most important thing is that our performance was very good today. I think we deserved to win, but sometimes it is better to not lose as well."

 

October 7, 2018

Mahrez has now missed five of his last eight penalties taken in the Premier League, four missed during his time at Leicester, and now one with Manchester City. 

All is not doom and gloom, as the Citizens still move back to the top of the Premier League table going into the international break, with the point they earned at Anfield.

However, come the end of the season, it is possible that this game may just come back to bite Mahrez and the Manchester City, as three points and a banished hoodoo against their 'bogey' team could have made all the difference in the title race this year.