Kevin De Bruyne put a first-half penalty wide as Manchester City failed to close the gap on Liverpool following a lively 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium.
Liverpool set up for an early blitz and got the opener through Mohamed Salah’s penalty after Kyle Walker left a knee on Sadio Mane, but City found rhythm and levelled as Gabriel Jesus poked under Alisson following a wonderful touch for his sixth goal in seven Premier League games.
In a breathless first half, City was then awarded a controversial penalty by VAR after Joe Gomez handled De Bruyne’s cross, but the Belgian gave us a collector’s item as he struck the spot-kick wide.
Liverpool then retreated in a game of two distinct halves – Jesus’ unmarked header wide the only clear-cut chance – and it remained level as Jurgen Klopp’s side failed to move top of the Premier League, but kept their five-point leader over City, who have a game in hand.
This first half was 45 minutes of football for the ages, the level of attacking “world-class” according to Gary Neville, as the Premier League’s top two sides in recent years went full pelt.
Jurgen Klopp had insisted before kick-off his side would be brave at the Etihad, and he was true to his word as Liverpool burst out of the blocks with what became a 4-2-4 formation on the ball.
And they got the goal their early energy deserved as Walker stuck out a knee to catch Mane on the left of the box after some lovely Liverpool build-up play, and Salah’s spot-kick was too strong for Ederson, despite guessing correctly to his right.
City wasn’t happy though, in events eerily similar to last season’s Anfield clash when a City handball shout preceded Liverpool’s opener.
Forty-five seconds before the goal at the other end, Raheem Sterling had been nudged on the edge of the box by Diogo Jota, but because the incident was not inside the penalty area and in a much earlier phase of play, it was not reviewed by VAR.
After Sterling’s effort from an acute angle was blocked well by Alisson, City began to locate the gaps in Liverpool’s midfield.
Georginio Wijnaldum was pulled out of position, meaning De Bruyne could feed Jesus in the box, and his sublime touch on the turn – the Brazilian claimed afterwards he meant it – allowed him to gain a yard on Trent Alexander-Arnold and poke under Alisson from eight yards before Joel Matip could block.
VAR then got involved to add to the drama as Gomez blocked De Bruyne’s cross with his hand in the box, awarded by referee Anthony Taylor after consulting the pitch-side monitor.
It has been an unusual Premier League season so far, but the sight of De Bruyne sticking his penalty wide was up there with the most bizarre.
The second half was more measured as both sides desperately looked for control; Jesus missed a fine chance to put City ahead, heading wide unmarked after Joao Cancelo brilliantly found him behind the Liverpool defence.
Alexander-Arnold was then forced off with a worrying calf injury, replaced by James Milner, and Liverpool’s passing became sloppy as City laboured to force a winner that would bring them to within two points of the champions.
Liverpool looked more comfortable with a draw, settling back into a 4-4-2 as Roberto Firmino was replaced by Xherdan Shaqiri, and it remained cagey and cautious as the game petered out.
In a season lacking in certainty, this game of two halves went some way to prove these two sides remain the heavyweights, even in missing their key players. But as City sit 10th in the Premier League, it’s clear this was a better result for champions Liverpool.
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