The Belgian star dragged his effort from the point of view when Pep Guardiola’s team had to settle for a point against rival Liverpool
Kevin De Bruyne is often the man who makes a difference for Manchester City.
An assist machine and ice cream heading into goal, the brilliant Belgian has been City’s standout player for several years.
But for once, against Liverpool on Sunday, De Bruyne was wrong.
The midfielder’s mistake from the penalty spot at the Etihad Stadium proved crucial as City missed what could have been a significant victory in the opening weeks of the title race over defending champions Jurgen Klopp.
It seems more likely that this season’s Premier League winners will come from the two teams that played a brilliant, nonstop clash here, and as such an away draw is much more suited to Liverpool, particularly given De’s mishap. Bruyne.
Title races can be decided by small margins, although City in 2018 and Liverpool last season made their way to trophies of late.
But in the 2018-19 campaign, England’s top two teams were head to head until the final game of the season, when City emerged as champions by just one point.
However, things could have been very different if City winger Riyad Mahrez had not taken a penalty at the end of the crossbar in a goalless draw at Anfield earlier that season.
Ironically, that was the last time a Premier League player missed the target from spot before De Bruyne missed a 1-1 draw at the Etihad.
And while City finally got away with that missed opportunity late in the season, they may not be as lucky a second time.
De Bruyne, probably the most talented passer in the world, dragged his effort in the 42nd minute from 12 yards down the wrong side of the post despite sending Alisson Becker down the wrong path after the hand of Joe Gomez.
It was the first time the former Chelsea player missed six attempts since taking the penalty charge in February after Sergio Aguero, Ikay Gundogan, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus missed five of seven attempts between them.
The look of horror on the playmaker’s face as his effort was widely diverted will have been equaled around the world by City fans who saw it.
The result leaves City still stranded in the lower half of the table heading into the international break, with Liverpool five points ahead of their rivals and leader Leicester City a clearer point.
Pep Guardiola’s team may have a game in hand across the bar, one of the teams in front of it, but this was an opportunity to close the gap and get into the fist of the teams that fight at the top.
As it stands, they will reflect on a match that, despite falling behind to a Mohamed Salah penalty and Liverpool’s vibrant attackers causing trouble for them, could realistically have won.
De Bruyne not only made a mistake from the penalty spot, but after half-time Jesús, who had scored a magnificent goal to equalize in the first half, headed in when he set him free in the area.
De Bruyne had set up that goal for Jesus with his sixth assist in his last four games, but it will be his inability to convert just over 10 minutes later that he will remember this game.
He and City will hope it won’t be deemed crucial when the trophy is presented in May.
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