SPLIT DECISION AS LEAGUE LEADER’S MAN CITY AND LIVERPOOL PLAY 2-2 DRAW AT ETIHAD STADIUM.
Manchester City and Liverpool played out one of the most entertaining draws in Premier League (PL) history, as the two heavyweights slogged it out in search of an advantage in the title race, but ultimately cancelled each other out at a tense Etihad Stadium.
City began proceedings with incessant pressure on the Liverpool goal, and Raheem Sterling’s early warning sign wasn’t heeded by the Reds’ defence, as Kevin De Bruyne’s deflected effort deceived Alisson and bounced in off the post just moments later. City’s lead didn’t last all that long though, as Liverpool hit back in what was their first real foray into City territory. Trent Alexander-Arnold kept his composure to cushion Andy Robertson’s cross down to Diogo Jota, whose effort squirmed beneath Ederson.
De Bruyne is City’s big-game man though, and after scoring the decisive goal in their midweek UEFA Champions League victory, the Belgian should’ve doubled his tally for the afternoon when his deft turn opened him a yard in the box, but his effort could only brush the side-netting. Fortunately for City, they didn’t have too long to wait for the next chance to come around. and this time there was no mistakes made by Gabriel Jesus, who was afforded the freedom of Manchester to fire City into a HT lead
City’s HT lead was gone less than a minute into the second half, as a momentary lapse in City concentration allowed Mo Salah to caress an inch-perfect pass through to Sadio Mané who finished with aplomb past Ederson on his 30th birthday. Having spurned a glorious opportunity in the first half, Sterling wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice, and he thought he had fired City into a 3-2 lead, but VAR had other ideas and adjudged the former Liverpool man to have strayed offside in the lead-up to the goal.
Having seen a free kick from Riyad Mahrez fly wide of Allison’s post in the final minute, before the Algerian overhit a wild shot with the game’s very last chance, a point perhaps suits Liverpool more than City, though it does little to boost either side’s title hopes. Simply put, it is still all to play for with seven games remaining.
