Liverpool vs Man City LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Alexis Mac Allister penalty ensures draw
Jurgen Klopp faces Pep Guardiola for potentially the final time in the rivalry that has defined the Premier League in recent years - and could yet decide this season’s title race
A game that had everything except a crescendo - and maybe some accuracy. As high as the standards to this rivalry have been over Jurgen Klopp’s time at Liverpool, there was a symbolism in how it was error that characterised another otherwise brilliant match against Manchester City. Liverpool lost John Stones for the first goal before a misplaced Nathan Ake pass gave up the equaliser, as so many chances were missed.
That may actually be better for the title race, since imperfection tends to produce much more drama than perfection. This 1-1 draw was certainly best for Arsenal, who stay top of the league on goal difference.
Such margins reflect how this game itself had echoes from then high ceilings of the first Liverpool-City title race in 2018-19, as there were so many near misses that may yet bring this down to mere millimetres again.
There was still the sense that Liverpool will feel they deserved more than the draw, although they can take considerable confidence from how a depleted side took it to City. Follow live reaction from Liverpool vs Manchester City below and get the latest match odds here.
GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Manchester City
24 mins: GOAL! John Stones puts City ahead! It’s a well-worked set piece: Ake blocks off Mac Allister at the near post, and De Bruyne sends in a low cross to the area. John Stones is arriving and bundles the ball into the net.
Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City
22 mins: Bernardo Silva gets in down the left, and his clipped cross is towards Halaand but van Dijk does well to clear and City have a corner.
Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City
20 mins: Liverpool’s pressing is certainly unsettling City – they were nowhere near this uncomfortable last week in the derby. Guardiola looks irritated on the touchline.
City provide a reminder of their threat as Alvarez plays in De Bruyne, but Liverpool do well to clear. Soon after, Rodri plays a cross-field ball to Foden, but his cross is blocked.
Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City
18 mins: OFFSIDE! Liverpool have the ball in the back of the net but Nunez is quite far offside. He was played clean through and cut it across for Diaz, but the VAR check takes no time at all.
Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City
17 mins: De Bruyne does well to free Foden down the wing, and the youngster cuts inside before releasing a shot which is blocked. The follow-up from Alvarez is also blocked, and Liverpool look to counter but Kyle Walker puts an end to it with a foul near halfway.
Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City
15 mins: Liverpool have come close to a couple of good opportunities now, with Szoboszlai narrowly missing a ball across the box from Nunez.
A minute later, Diaz puts in a lovely cross but it comes at Nunez quickly and his header is poor.
Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City
13 mins: City are managing to find gaps, but no clinical end product yet. They’ve produced both of the shots on target so far.
Liverpool are looking to spread the play and they do so very well. Van Dijk plays a long ball to Bradley, who does excellently to turn Ake inside-out before fizzing in a cross, but Nunez can’t get across to it.
Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City
10 mins: Liverpool almost counter from a City corner, but Silva moves Nunez off the ball too easily. The home side have the ball once more, but Nunez tries to be clever and loses it on halfway.
Boos are ringing around Anfield as City have some sustained possession, but the ball soon ends up with Kelleher.
Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City
8 mins: Elliott tries the cross-field ball but Walker intercepts. Rodri plays it to Haaland on halfway, and the Norwegian turns provider for De Bruyne, but his cross is over the bar.
City attack again and De Bruyne finds himself in space in front of goal, but his shot is easily parried by Kelleher.
Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City
6 mins: Ederson sets Foden away, but Liverpool win it back, and Walker fouls Szoboszlai on the halfway line.
Liverpool are enjoying some sustained possession for the first time in the game now. It looks like their game plan will involve a lot of the high pressing that we’ve become used to seeing under Klopp.
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