Liverpool hold Man City in thrilling drawon April 10, 2022 at 5:40 pm

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Premier League’s top two play out pulsating draw at Etihad Stadium to keep the title race on a knife edge.

Kyle Walker and Sadio Mane

The meeting between the country’s two outstanding sides lived up to its pre-match billing and in the end there was nothing to separate them, with the destination of the title still hanging in the balance with seven games remaining.

City flew out of the blocks to take an early lead through Kevin de Bruyne’s deflected strike but Liverpool were quickly on terms when Diogo Jota turned home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s pass.

Pep Guardiola’s side dominated a magnificent first 45 minutes but failed to convert a host of chances before Gabriel Jesus stole in behind Alexander-Arnold to restore their lead from Joao Cancelo’s cross nine minutes before the break.

Liverpool had been strangely nervous but came out rejuvenated after the re-start, equalising when Sadio Mane celebrated his 30th birthday by scoring from Mohamed Salah’s perfect pass in the 47th minute.

Raheem Sterling had a goal ruled out for offside as both sides pressed for a winner in this superb match, with City substitute Riyad Mahrez wasting a chance to win it in the dying seconds as he lifted his finish over the top.

Man City still in control… just

Premier League table

Manchester City and manager Pep Guardiola may regret their failure to turn first-half superiority into a more meaningful advantage but they will not be wholly dissatisfied with the outcome.

There will certainly be no dissatisfaction with City’s level of performance, which was outstanding apart from a sloppy first 15 minutes at the start of the second half, during which Liverpool equalised and the reigning Premier League champions were on the back foot.

City’s supporters seemed happy enough with the final outcome, clearly living on their nerves in the closing stages knowing Liverpool’s threat and their capacity to strike at any time.

De Bruyne was at his imperious best, although Sterling struggled against his former club, his day summed up when arguably his most composed piece of play in a frenetic afternoon saw a low finish past Alisson ruled out for offside, while Liverpool’s keeper also denied him in the opening moments of the game.

City’s advantage at the top of the table is just that one point but knowing how formidable Liverpool’s challenge can be, you suspect Guardiola will settle for it with only seven games left and a fixture list that looks manageable.

He would have preferred the victory that would have opened up a crucial gap but City have survived their toughest fixture of the season against their most dangerous opponents largely unscathed.

More to follow.

Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.

Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection

Manchester City

Starting XI

  1. Squad number31Player nameEderson
    Average rating

    5.32

  2. Squad number2Player nameWalker
    Average rating

    5.58

  3. Squad number5Player nameStones
    Average rating

    5.37

  4. Squad number14Player nameLaporte
    Average rating

    5.43

  5. Squad number27Player nameJoão Cancelo
    Average rating

    5.96

  6. Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva
    Average rating

    5.74

  7. Squad number16Player nameRodri
    Average rating

    5.55

  8. Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne
    Average rating

    6.81

  9. Squad number9Player nameGabriel Jesus
    Average rating

    5.96

  10. Squad number7Player nameSterling
    Average rating

    5.34

  11. Squad number47Player nameFoden
    Average rating

    6.03

Substitutes

  1. Squad number10Player nameGrealish
    Average rating

    4.79

  2. Squad number26Player nameMahrez
    Average rating

    5.19

Liverpool

Starting XI

  1. Squad number1Player nameAlisson
    Average rating

    6.39

  2. Squad number66Player nameAlexander-Arnold
    Average rating

    6.11

  3. Squad number32Player nameMatip
    Average rating

    6.03

  4. Squad number4Player namevan Dijk
    Average rating

    6.25

  5. Squad number26Player nameRobertson
    Average rating

    6.27

  6. Squad number14Player nameHenderson
    Average rating

    5.99

  7. Squad number3Player nameFabinho
    Average rating

    5.72

  8. Squad number6Player nameThiago Alcántara
    Average rating

    5.98

  9. Squad number11Player nameMohamed Salah
    Average rating

    6.13

  10. Squad number20Player nameDiogo Jota
    Average rating

    6.74

  11. Squad number10Player nameMané
    Average rating

    6.62

Substitutes

  1. Squad number8Player nameKeïta
    Average rating

    6.00

  2. Squad number9Player nameRoberto Firmino
    Average rating

    5.94

  3. Squad number23Player nameDíaz
    Average rating

    6.28

Line-ups

Man City

Formation 4-3-3

  • 31Ederson
  • 2Walker
  • 5Stones
  • 14Laporte
  • 27Cancelo
  • 20Bernardo SilvaBooked at 40mins
  • 16Rodri
  • 17De Bruyne
  • 9Gabriel JesusSubstituted forGrealishat 83’minutes
  • 7SterlingSubstituted forMahrezat 75’minutes
  • 47Foden

Substitutes

  • 6Aké
  • 8Gündogan
  • 10Grealish
  • 11Zinchenko
  • 13Steffen
  • 25Fernandinho
  • 26Mahrez
  • 87McAtee
  • 90Lavia

Liverpool

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Alisson
  • 66Alexander-Arnold
  • 32Matip
  • 4van DijkBooked at 89mins
  • 26RobertsonBooked at 28mins
  • 14HendersonSubstituted forKeïtaat 78’minutes
  • 3FabinhoBooked at 83mins
  • 6Thiago AlcántaraBooked at 61mins
  • 11Salah
  • 20JotaSubstituted forDíazat 70’minutes
  • 10ManéSubstituted forFirminoat 84’minutes

Substitutes

  • 5Konaté
  • 7Milner
  • 8Keïta
  • 9Firmino
  • 12Gomez
  • 17Jones
  • 21Tsimikas
  • 23Díaz
  • 62Kelleher
Referee:
Anthony Taylor
Attendance:
53,197

Live Text

  1. Match ends, Manchester City 2, Liverpool 2.

  2. Second Half ends, Manchester City 2, Liverpool 2.

  3. Attempt missed. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne with a through ball following a fast break.

  4. Foul by Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City).

  5. Fabinho (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  6. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) hits the left post with a left footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.

  7. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  8. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  9. Foul by Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool).

  10. Foul by Rodri (Manchester City).

  11. Thiago (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  12. Substitution, Liverpool. Roberto Firmino replaces Sadio Mané.

  13. Substitution, Manchester City. Jack Grealish replaces Gabriel Jesus.

  14. Fabinho (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  15. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  16. Foul by Fabinho (Liverpool).

  17. Substitution, Liverpool. Naby Keïta replaces Jordan Henderson.

  18. Attempt missed. Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right following a corner.

  19. Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Rodri.

  20. Substitution, Manchester City. Riyad Mahrez replaces Raheem Sterling.

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