Man City vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Riyad Mahrez wastes huge late chance
Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool: Follow the reaction from a thrilling draw in the Premier League as the leaders stay ahead in the title race
Manchester City and Liverpool shared the points in a thrilling draw at the Etihad as the visitors equalised twice to keep the title race alive, despite the Premier League leaders maintaining their slender advantage.
It was City who struck first in a lightening start as Kevin De Bruyne skipped past Fabinho and fired a deflected effort past goalkeeper Alisson inside five minutes, but the Reds responded well and Diogo Jota pulled them level less than 10 minutes later.
Gabriel Jesus, a surprise inclusion in Pep Guardiola’s team, fired the hosts back in front before the break as he latched onto the end of Joao Cancelo’s excellent delivery. Liverpool hit back again, though, as Sadio Mane finished Mohamed Salah’s brilliant pass to equalise just 47 seconds after the restart.
Liverpool were much improved after the break but were handed a lifeline when Raheem Sterling’s goal was disallowed by VAR for offside, before Salah saw a curling effort deflect wide. Riyad Mahrez hit the post with a late free kick, before wasting a huge chance as the breathless contest ended level.
Follow all the reaction and updates as Manchester City and Liverpool shared the points in this potential Premier League decider:
Man City 2 - 2 Liverpool
61 mins: Chance! An aerial pass comes into the Liverpool box and Gabriel Jesus climbs over Andy Robertson to win it and bring the ball under control. He checks inside twice before lacing a left-footed effort at goal but Virgil van Dijk stands in his way and makes the block.
Man City 2 - 2 Liverpool
58 mins: City have been more tentative in this half than they were in the first 45 minutes. Pep Guardiola is gesturing for them to get the ball out to the wide areas and get further forward.
Man City 2 - 2 Liverpool
55 mins: Trent Alexander-Arnold is having to work extra hard in defence as City continue to target Sterling on the left wing. Most of the action is being played in midfield with both teams quick to close down the ball not allowing the playmakers time in possession.
Diogo Jota gives it away to Gabriel Jesus who sets off on the counter-attack. Thiago Alcantara scrambles acros and hacks Jesus down to stop the run and somehow avoids a booking.
Man City 2 - 2 Liverpool
52 mins: Close! Andy Robertson whips an early cross into the box and finds Mo Salah at the back post but he’s running so quickly that he can’t bring the ball under control and Aymeric Laporte manages to boot it clear.
Man City 2 - 2 Liverpool
49 mins: That’s just the start Liverpool needed to the second half. Man City have to respond again now. Bernardo Silva tries to lift the ball over the top of the Liverpool back four but Trent Alexander-Arnold tracks back well and holds off Joao Cancelo to win his team a throw in.
GOAL! Man City 2 - 2 Liverpool (Mane, 46’)⚽️
46 mins: What a game! Mane levels the match 47 seconds after the restart. A diagonal pass comes across to Alexander-Arnold who nods the ball down for Mo Salah. He spots Sadio Mane’s run in behind Kyle Walker and slots a through ball into the box. Mane collects and blasts it past Ederson to bring Liverpool back on level terms!
Second half: Man City 2 - 1 Liverpool
Kick off: No changes from either manager at half-time as Manchester City restart the match. It’s knocked up the pitch and claimed by Alisson as the ball bounces into the box.
Man City 2 - 1 Liverpool
Before today, neither Gabriel Jesus (W42 D2) nor Diogo Jota (W27 D5) have ended on the losing side in a Premier League match in which they have found the net.
Both have already scored at the Etihad Stadium so is a draw the most likely outcome?
Man City 2 - 1 Liverpool
Liverpool find themselves trailing at the break for the first time in the Premier League all season, with today being exactly a year since they were last behind at half time in a league game (came back to win 2-1 v Aston Villa on 10th April 2021).
Man City 2 - 1 Liverpool
Goals for both teams in that first half. A deflected effort from Kevin De Bruyne sent Man City in front before Diogo Jota equalised a few minutes later. The status quo remained in tact for the next 25 minutes before Gabriel Jesus snuck in behind and met Joao Cancelo’s cross to put City back in front.
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