MANCHESTER: Manchester City remained one point clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League standings after the highly-anticipated clash of the giants ended in a pulsating 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The match lived up to its billing right from the off as City flew out of the traps, racing into a fifth-minute lead after Kevin De Bruyne's strike was deflected past Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.
City, playing with the high pressing intensity which their opponents are famed for, could have taken the lead moments earlier but Raheem Sterling shot softly at Alisson from a glorious position.
With the raucous home crowd sensing Juergen Klopp's side were wobbling, however, Liverpool showed their mettle as they regrouped and levelled eight minutes later through Diogo Jota, assisted by a perfectly-cushioned Trent Alexander-Arnold pass.
The tempo was relentless, the action gripping and the momentum shifted again when Gabriel Jesus restored City's lead in the 36th minute.
Liverpool cleared a corner only as far as Joao Cancelo and the Portuguese full back floated the ball back deep into the box where Jesus had stayed onside, nipping past Alexander-Arnold and steering the ball past Alisson.
It was the first time Liverpool had trailed at the break in the Premier League this season, but they did not need long to restore parity, scoring 46 seconds after the restart.
Mohamed Salah picked the ball up on the right flank and split the City defence with a superb pass to Sadio Mane who burst goalwards before converting with his customary precision.
REGAIN CONTROL
City were stunned but Pep Guardiola's side recovered to regain control of the midfield for much of the second half and they came closest to winning the game.
Raheem Sterling thought he had again given the hosts the advantage in the 63rd minute, racing on to a brilliant De Bruyne through ball, only for the former Liverpool forward to be ruled offside following a VAR review.
In the 90th minute, City substitute Riyad Mahrez shaved the outside of the post with a free kick and in stoppage time the Algerian had a great chance to win the game but his attempted chip was off target.
It was a questionable decision from Mahrez when a more conventional approach might have paid off but City were left to digest a point that changes little in the race.
"It's a great chance. Riyad chose to chip and if it goes in it's a wonder goal," said De Bruyne.
"We played very well, I think we had the upper hand. This is the way we need to play the rest of the season. I know people said whoever wins gets the title. But it's too hard, the schedule is too tough for both teams to win every game, but we will try," added the Belgian.
The result was a repeat of October's scoreline at Anfield and was the first time City had scored first and not gone on to win in the Premier League this season.
A fourth Premier League crown in five seasons is in City's hands, though, as they moved on to 74 points, one ahead of their title rivals, but with seven games left for both teams there is still plenty of work to do.
"Of course, we knew we would come under pressure early on, they are a fantastic team," said Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.
"I felt we settled down a bit and caused them problems. It's pleasing how we twice came from behind. We have to concentrate on ourselves and win as many games as possible. If they slip up we have to be there right behind them. We'll keep going until the end," he added.
Reuters
Mon Apr 11 2022
Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus scores their second goal , Premier League - Manchester City v Liverpool - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - April 10, 2022. - Action Images/via Reuters
Mesyuarat Khas WEF: Tekanan politik dalaman punca Israel ‘menggila’ - PM Jordan, Mesir
Kedua-dua perdana menteri negara Asia Barat itu setuju serangan ketenteraan di Rafah hanya akan memburukkan keadaan yang sudah sedia meruncing.
Tingkat kawalan di sempadan tangani kemasukan kambing, lembu murah menjelang Aidiladha
KPKM meminta jabatan dan agensi kerajaan berkaitan kawalan sempadan memperhebat penguatkuasaan serta kawalan di pintu masuk negara bagi menangani kemasukan kambing dan lembu murah menjelang Aidiladha.
Mahkamah tolak permohonan pemilik akaun media sosial mulakan semakan kehakiman
Mahkamah Tinggi menolak permohonan pemilik akaun media sosial untuk mendapatkan kebenaran bagi memulakan prosiding semakan kehakiman terhadap MCMC.
KOM beri tiga atlet kebebasan pilih SUKMA atau kejohanan dunia
KOM memberi kebebasan kepada tiga atlet muda kebangsaan, untuk memilih sama ada mewakili negeri ke SUKMA atau menyahut cabaran negara pada Kejohanan Olahraga Dunia Bawah 20 tahun (B-20) 2024.
Anggota polis didakwa terima rasuah beri tembakau kepada tahanan lokap
Seorang anggota polis berpangkat koperal berhadapan dua pertuduhan menerima rasuah sebagai balasan membawa masuk barang terlarang kepada tahanan lokap.
SPRM sahkan tiada penyelewengan, rasuah dikesan dalam projek NTC setakat ini
SPRM mengesahkan tidak menemui sebarang penyelewengan serta rasuah setakat ini berhubung cadangan projek pembinaan National Training Center (NTC) di Putrajaya yang dianggar bernilai RM25 juta.
WEF: Perdagangan Malaysia, Arab Saudi boleh diperkukuh menerusi kerjasama - Tengku Zafrul
Kerjasama Malaysia-Arab Saudi dengan saling memanfaat kekuatan antara satu sama lain dapat menyokong pertumbuhan perdagangan dan pelaburan.
Jalan berlubang, penunggang motosikal dapat ganti rugi RM721,000
Akibat kemalangan tersebut, plaintif mengalami kecederaan di bahu, lengan, jari dan kepala.
Selamatkan Gaza: Gaza semakin hari semakin memburuk
Peperangan di Gaza semakin hari semakin memburuk. Setakat ini dilaporkan lebih 37 ribu warga Gaza telah terkorban kerana serangan demi serangan daripada rejim Zionis.
Ia membawa kepada berlakunya krisis kemanusiaan di Gaza ketika ini.
Di Mesyuarat Khas wef yang berlangsung di Arab Saudi..krisis ini menjadi antara tumpuan.
Kita terus bersama dengan Najib Aroff dan Ashwad Ismail yang mengikuti mesyuarat ini di Arab Saudi.
Ia membawa kepada berlakunya krisis kemanusiaan di Gaza ketika ini.
Di Mesyuarat Khas wef yang berlangsung di Arab Saudi..krisis ini menjadi antara tumpuan.
Kita terus bersama dengan Najib Aroff dan Ashwad Ismail yang mengikuti mesyuarat ini di Arab Saudi.
Letupan bom Sungai Golok: Empat anggota keselamatan Thailand cedera
Empat anggota keselamatan Thailand cedera apabila terkena letupan bom di Sungai Golok, Thailand, malam tadi.
EPL: Manchester City himpit Arsenal
Gawang The Seagulls robek lagi kali ini menerusi bintang meningkat naik Phil Foden dengan gol pada minit ke-26 dan 34.
Manchester City buka sekolah di Vietnam
Dwight School Hanoi sedia membentuk bakat muda di kampus termaju seluas 41,000 kaki persegi di The Manor Central Park, Hanoi.
Van Dijk mahu pemain Liverpool lihat cermin
Gol setiap babak bermula dengan minit ke-27 diikuti minit ke-58 juga menyaksikan peluang Liverpool untuk merangkul kejuaraan EPL semakin samar.
Piala FA Inggeris: Bernardo Silva bidas jadual abai kesihatan pemain
Silva menjaringkan gol kemenangan lewat ketika City yang kelihatan letih melakar kemenangan 1-0 ke atas Chelsea di Wembley, pada Sabtu.
Piala FA Inggeris: Status Erling Haaland masih tanda tanya
Pep Guardiola mendedahkan bahawa pemain berusia 23 tahun itu meminta untuk dikeluarkan tanpa memberi alasan yang kukuh.
UCL: Guardiola tidak kesal Man City tersingkir
Manchester City tewas 3-4 kepada Real Madrid selepas pertemuan suku akhir kedua awal pagi tadi terikat 1-1 dan 4-4 secara agregat.
Liverpool buat Man United kini berpaling sokong Man City - John Aldridge
Aldridge memberikan tamparan hebat buat penyokong Manchester United yang tampak gembira atas kekalahan Liverpool di tangan Crystal Palace.
EPL: Manchester City terus bagi ancaman kepada Arsenal
Manchester City kekal di atas dalam saingan Liga Perdana Inggeris (EPL), dengan perbezaan dua mata di hadapan Arsenal dan Liverpool.
EPL: Arsenal rosakkan rekod gah City di Etihad
Ini kali pertama Arsenal berjaya mencatat aksi tanpa bolos atau 'cleen sheet' di kubu keramat City sejak 2015.
EPL: Pep Guardiola anggap perlawanan di Anfield umpama badai 'tsunami'
John Stones memberikan pasukannya kelebihan dengan jaringan gol pendahuluan pada minit ke-23.