No separating Liverpool and Man City in epic as title race in the balance
Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates after scoring a penalty, his side's first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Manchester City, at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
The final Premier League meeting between Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola did not disappoint, even if a breathless draw between two of the giants of the English game offered no clarity in the title race.
As City held a half-time lead at Anfield, Guardiola was heading to the top of the table, to become the third team to hold that spot this weekend, after Arsenal had replaced Liverpool there late on Saturday.
But Liverpool, helped by City goalkeeper Ederson gifting them a penalty in the opening minutes of the second half, threatened to simply engulf the defending champions in that second half.
Still, in keeping with this thrilling game and the title race in general, City sub Jeremy Doku looked like he had won the game in the 88th minute as he darted in from the left wing, only for his shot to hit the inside of the post and rebound to safety.
And, in the final minute of the eight added on, Doku escaped a VAR check that could have cost him a red card and a penalty as he went in, boot-high, on Alexis Mac Allister.
When the dust had finally settled on an absorbing contest, Arsenal clung onto first place, on goal difference from Liverpool, with City one point further behind and the title race brewing up to be the most closely-contested in the Premier League’s 31-year history.
It may not do much for the blood pressure or heart health of these two legendary managers but to neutral supporters, as well as Premier League marketeers and those charged with selling multi-billion pound TV rights across the globe, it is the stuff of dreams.
The rush of blood that altered the momentum of the day, and possibly the title race, came minutes after the restart and was the result of the first serious mistake of the day by City.
Nathan Ake’s under-hit backpass was always going to present his keeper Ederson with problems but the Brazilian compounded matters by rashly sprinting off his line to take out Darwin Nunez with the swing of his boot.
There was a three-minute delay while the keeper received treatment on a thigh injury but Mac Allister maintained lazer focus to convert an unstoppable 50th minute penalty despite the keeper diving the right way.
Guardiola’s disgusted reaction spoke volumes on the touchline and, within five minutes, Ederson had been forced to leave the field with his injury, making way for Stefan Ortega.
The City manager’s frustrations were all the more understandable as his side had turned in a majestic first half performance, to lead through John Stones opening goal, and done as well as they possibly could to silence Anfield.
Stones had struck from a brilliantly-worked 23rd minute near-post corner from Kevin De Bruyne which the defender turned in at the near post after slipping his marker.
But the equaliser, and its timing early in the second half, was huge and energised a white-hot Anfield.
Phil Foden might have quietened it but Caoimhin Kelleher spread himself well to block his attempt as he raced onto De Bruyne’s pass.
Klopp’s response was to bring on Mo Salah from his bench, moments after Luis Diaz’s poor first touch had wasted a glorious opening for the Reds as it allowed Oretga to dive and smother at his feet.
Incredibly, twice within a minute, Diaz wasted further chances to put his team in front. First, with practically his first touch, Salah played him clear but he curled his shot wide and, then, Nunez found Diaz unmarked, only for a poor first touch to allow Kyle Walker to steal the ball of his toe, with the goal at his mercy.
Guardiola, winner of just one of his previous eight trips to Anfield, was staring at another defeat and brought on Mateo Kovacic to try and stem the bleeding. The City manager also threw on winger Doku, in place of De Bruyne who voiced his disapproval as he left the field.
Ortega was forced to save well again, this time from Nunez as he met a brilliant Andy Robertson cross, although City were finally getting to grips with taking the sting out of the game.
They might even have scored a bizarre goal, as Kelleher punched Doklu’s cross against Foden with the ricochet striking the bar, although replays showed the ball hit the City man’s arm.
(4-3-3): Kelleher 7; Bradley 7 (Robertson 60, 7), Quansah 7, van Dijk 9, Gomez 7; Szoboszlai 6 (Salah 60, 6), Endo 6, MacAllister 7; Elliott 7, Nunez 7 (Gakpo 76, 6), Diaz 7. Substitutes (not used) Adrian, Tsimikas, Clark, McConnell, Nallo, Koumas.
(4-1-4-1): Ederson 5 (Ortega 55, 7); Walker 6, Stones 7, Akanji 6, Ake 5; Rodri 7; Foden 7, Silva 6, De Bruyne 6 (Kovacic 68, 7), Alvarez 5 (Doku 68, 6); Haaland 6. Substitutes (not used) Dias, Gomez, Gvardiol, Nunes, Bobb, Lewis.
: M Oliver 7
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