Things ended up the same way they started, without any change in the lead at the top between Manchester City and Liverpool separating them. After an enthralling first half, Manchester City went into half-time with quite a 2-1 lead over Liverpool, however, the Reds leveled the score merely 46 seconds into the second half through Sadio Mane. At the end of regulation time, the scores managed to remain the same, with both teams sharing the points.
Both teams had chances to win the game, but neither could produce a winner, allowing City to claim their fourth Premier League championship in five seasons. The city now sits on 74 points, one point ahead of its title rivals, after both teams had played 31 games.
Liverpool came from behind twice to earn a dramatic 2-2 draw against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, keeping the Premier League championship chase on a knife-edge for the time being. Liverpool:
Pep Guardiola made three changes from the team that played against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. Nathan Ake, Riyad Mahrez, and Ilkay Gundogan were among the players who were released. Phil Foden, Gabriel Jesus, and Kyle Walker were among those who returned.
Jurgen Klopp also made three changes from the team that played against Benfica the previous week, opting to play Diogo Jota in the center of the field with Luis Diaz on the bench. Joel Matip has rejoined Virgil van Dijk’s team, and Jordan Henderson has taken over for Naby Keita in the midfield.
Kevin De Bruyne and Diogo Jota swapped goals early in the first half of a game that had been regarded as a championship decider, but Gabriel Jesus restored City’s advantage late in the first half.
However, Sadio Mane scored Liverpool’s second equalizer early in the second half, and even though both teams pressed for the winner, the result is the same as it was in the championship race, with City leading by a point.
Even before Kevin De Bruyne’s shot bounced off Joel Matip and into the corner in the sixth minute, as the game sprang to life from the kick-off, Raheem Sterling had missed a great opportunity to put Manchester City ahead.
Even though Pep Guardiola’s team was the dominating force in the first half, playing with tremendous energy, the quality of Jurgen Klopp’s team guaranteed that there was always a threat.
Jota’s goal made it very evident, with Trent Alexander-cushioned Arnold’s volley laying the ball into his path in stunning fashion. It brought the home support to a halt, but only for a short period.
This City team appeared to be created to harry and the press, with the presence of Jesus in a Premier League starting line-up for the first time since New Year’s Day encapsulating the philosophy.
It was a vindication of Guardiola’s judgment when the Brazilian was on the end of Joao Cancelo’s angled ball into the penalty box and diverted his effort past Alisson.
The goalkeepers played an important role in the game, both saving shots and committing blunders. With his careless passing, Alisson drew attention to himself. Ederson came dangerously close to putting the ball in his net.
City took the lead into the half-time break, but the advantage did not last long, with Mohamed Salah setting up Sadio Mane to equalize the scores shortly after the restart.
With just over ten minutes left in the second half, Raheem Sterling felt he had found a way to score, only to have his effort disallowed due to a narrow offside ruling.
Both teams were chasing the winning goal, with Salah having a shot deflected wide and Jesus unable to find the target when there were possibilities in the center of the field. In the dying seconds, replacement Riyad Mahrez curled a free-kick just wide of the post.
The goal was right in front of Mahrez as time expired, and he attempted an audacious chip that flew over the crossbar. Liverpool’s street warriors were up against Manchester City’s more controlled game by this point, as Gary Neville described it. What may be the separating factor between them?
A lot was riding on today’s result, as City was only one point ahead of second-place Liverpool with seven games left to play. A win at the Etihad Stadium would have put the defending champions four points clear of the pack and put them in strong contention for a sixth Premier League title in 11 years.
The second-half action was exciting for the fans, but neither side could find a way over the halfway point and the game went down to penalties. The Citizens of Manchester remain one point clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League. Fortunately, if you couldn’t get enough of the action, the FA Cup quarterfinals between these two teams will be played next weekend.
Published by: Aditya Negi
Edited by: Khushi Thakur
