Manchester City have maintained their advantage in the Premier League title race with an entertaining draw over rivals Liverpool today in a hotly-anticipated clash of two incredible teams.
City went into the game leading the Premier League by a point, with liverpool capitalizing on some dropped points from City and their own games in hand to close the gap in recent weeks. With the end of the season in sight, the winner of this game will have a huge title advantage for the final games of the campaign.
Pep Guardiola was once again without Ruben Dias through injury, while Cole Palmer also misses out. Kyle Walker will be available after missing the Champions League win over Atletico Madrid with injury.
Gabriel Jesus started along with Phil Foden, and City made the perfect start when Kevin De Bruyne’s deflected effort went in early on. Diogo Jota equalized for Liverpool, but Jesus’ well-taken goal put City ahead before half time. Sadio Mane’s strike 47 seconds after the restart ended up earning Liverpool a point, although Raheem Sterling saw a goal ruled out for offside in the second half.
Follow below for pre-match build-up, live match updates and post match reaction from the Etihad.
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FT – City 2-2 LiverpoolStuart Brennan
City keep title race edge over Liverpool after another classic
The two best teams on the planet served up another breathless, bouncing, bold classic – and yet again there was nothing to divide them. And we have to do it all again in six days’ time, in an FA Cup semi-final!
Twice City led, through Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus, but twice Liverpool – despite being second best for much of the game – refused to lie down, and leveled through Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane. The first half had us all wondering whether these two teams could keep up an incredible, relentless pace that was also garnished with some supreme quality. It was exhaustive watching from the stands as two pedigree sides went hammer and thongs.
But in the end, a point each means the Blues keep their noses in front in the title race, with seven games to go. Liverpool needed a win, City played for one, but the result was much better for the home side.
FT – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
De Bruyne: We know how we have to play
Speaking to Sky Sports, Kevin De Bruyne says City deserved to win today.
He said:
“It was hard, to be fair, we played excellent. We conceded twice but the way we played was very good. Should have scored more. We keep going. The quality and intensity [from Liverpool] is there, it showed and it was a great game.
“It should [have been more] but we were still winning. The way the second half started is disappointing. We know Liverpool can score with a couple of chances. We played great and created enough chances to win but it didn’t happen.”
“Riyad chose to chip the keeper, if it goes in it’s a wonder goal but it didn’t happen. We played very well and had the upper hand. We didn’t win, it can happen but that’s the way we need to play going forward.”
Is a point better for City?
“It’s similar, a lot of people said whoever wins the title goes to there but neither team thinks that. The schedule is way too tough for both teams to win all the games. We’ll try but the way we played today is the way we need to move forward.”
FT – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
City’s remaining fixtures
So, City are seven games from the title. It’s easier said than done, but you’d say they had a better run-in than Liverpool.
- April 20 – Brighton H
- April 23 – Watford H
- April 30 – Leeds A
- May 8 – Newcastle H
- May 15 – West Ham A
- May 22 – Aston Villa H
FT – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
How the table looks
City remain ahead and will be champions if they win their remaining seven games.
FT – City 2-2 LiverpoolStuart Brennan
Player Ratings as Foden shines
Ederson Gave everyone kittens with his turf-kick but he was otherwise sound and not at fault for the goal – 6
Kyle Walker Opened up the Liverpool left every time he ventured forward, and his pace was key in defense – 8
John Stones Lack of coordination with Walker handed Mane his goal, but he stood up well to a classy front three – 7
Aymeric Laporte Impeccably-timed tackle denied Jota in the first half, ad he was solid and constructive throughout – 8
FT – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
Rate the players
Plenty of big performances there – let us know how you would rate each player out of ten.
FT – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
Advantage City
City will be happier than Liverpool with that result.
FT – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
Full time!
Well, what a game that was!
It ends 2-2, and City will be much happy with that. They remain a point ahead in the table and the title remains in their hands. Liverpool must now rely on City to drop points to win the league.
Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus with the goals for City, canceled out by Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane.
And breathe…
90+3′ – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
over the bar!
Riyad Mahrez had a chance to win it!
City break and it ends up with Mahrez. He opts to chip Alisson from the edge of the area but gets too much on it and it’s over.
89′ – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
Off the post!
Riyad Mahrez takes the 30-yard free kick and clips the outside of the post. What an effort.
89′ – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
Van Dijk booked
Kevin De Bruyne looks to run at the defence, and Virgil Van Dijk takes one for the team by bringing him down and collecting a yellow card.
85′ – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
Thiago is lucky
Thiago Alcantara brings down Kevin De Bruyne but escapes a second yellow card.
84′ – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
Mane replaced for Liverpool
Liverpool’s final change sees Roberto Firmino replacing Sadio Mane.
82′ – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
Fabinho booked
Fabinho goes in strongly on Bernardo Silva from behind and is yellow carded.
City players want more punishment after a Fabinho tackle that went unpunished earlier in the move and Anthony Taylor had waved play on.
81′ – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
Grealish coming on
As we enter the final ten minutes, Jack Grealish will be coming on.
77′ – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
Second Liverpool changes
Jordan Henderson is booed as he walks off. Naby Keita replaces him.
74′ – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
Mahrez comes on
Raheem Sterling is withdrawn after a breathless performance. Riyad Mahrez replaces him.
73′ – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
Jota substitution could help City
Luis Diaz may prove them wrong but City will probably be happy to see the back of Diogo Jota, who has caused them problems all afternoon.
Guardiola used the sub to have a few words with Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was waiting to take a throw-in.
72′ – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
Jesus hits the side netting
Kevin De Bruyne frees Gabriel Jesus in the area.
He has Phil Foden trying to get ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold at the back post, with De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling well-placed for a cut-back.
He goes it alone and fires into the side netting from a tight angle, to the fury of his three teammates in the box.
71′ – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
Salah goes for goal
Mo Salah cuts inside and curls towards the bottom corner.
It takes a deflection and just goes wide, but the referee somehow misses the touch off Laporte and gives a goal kick.
70′ – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
fine margins
This was how close Raheem Sterling was to give City the lead for the third time.
69′ – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
Liverpool make the first change
Diogo Jota is replaced for Luis Diaz.
65′ – City 2-2 LiverpoolSimon Bajkowski
Jesus call vindicated
Gabriel Jesus wouldn’t have made many peoples’ XIs for this game but he has been absolutely terrific, a real handful for Robertson. Guardiola can feel vindicated with that call.
63′ – City 2-2 LiverpoolKEY EVENT
Goal disallowed
Raheem Sterling was marginally offside so the goal is ruled out.
62′ – City 3-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
Sterling scores!!
City are back ahead and it was as easy as you like.
Raheem Sterling is played through and takes control from Gabriel Jesus, who’s clearly offside. He finishes confidently, but there’s a VAR check.
60′ – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
Now Thiago gets his yellow
Thiago can’t escape a card tis time as he makes an almost identical tackle to bring down Kevin De Bruyne.
The referee waved play on, but eventually brings it back for a booking when play finally stops a minute or two later.
Gabriel Jesus had a chance to score after winning the ball in the box, but his effort is blocked.
57′ – City 2-2 LiverpoolJoe Bray
Thiago avoids a booking
Gabriel Jesus picks up a loose ball and tries to drive over the halfway line. Thiago Alcantara dives in and brings him down, but doesn’t get a yellow card.
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