Man City 1-1 Liverpool: Honors even at the Etihad

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Publication date: Sunday, November 8, 2020 6:26 AM

Man City missed a chance to score all three points when Kevin De Bruyne’s penalty in the first half went wide.

The champions, with a four-man attack, took an early lead in a thrilling Premier League match at Etihad Stadium when Salah scored after Kyle Walker’s foul on Sadio Mane.

City responded with a fine goal from Jesús in form, but De Bruyne missed the opportunity to overtake them when he fired wide from 12 meters before the break.

Both teams had chances in the second half, but neither could break through, meaning Liverpool fell from first to third over the weekend, while City remained in the middle of the table.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp made a bold decision by placing Diogo Jota fit on his side alongside Salah’s three feared forwards, Mane and Roberto Firmino, and giving everyone the same license to attack.

Playing in what looked like a 4-2-4 formation, the visitors went straight to the front foot. They created an opportunity in the opening minute when Firmino ran for the goal from a long ball, but Ederson did enough to discourage him.

That set the pace for the opening stages and Liverpool were rewarded for their aggressive and positive start with a penalty in the 13th minute.

There were few complaints when Craig Pawson pointed to the spot after Walker, ridiculed as “an idiot” after the challenge from television expert Roy Keane, cut Mane off. Salah made City pay the price by crushing his home from the spot.

Another quick Liverpool break led Salah to get Mane into the box, but Ruben Dias blocked.

City finally began to settle down and put De Bruyne on the ball. It was the Belgian who created his first chance when he chose Raheem Sterling at the far post, but the England forward, cutting in to shoot with his right foot, allowed Alisson Becker to make the save.

City drew just before half an hour when De Bruyne fed Jesús with his back to the goal. The City striker, who started for the first time since September, beat Trent Alexander-Arnold with a clever move and spin and then passed Alisson.

De Bruyne drove away from afar moments later and then had an even better chance to put City ahead when City received a penalty before half-time. After a lengthy VAR review involving Pawson going to the monitor, Joe Gomez was judged to have driven while attempting to get his arm away from a De Bruyne cross. Liverpool contested the decision, but escaped damage when De Bruyne launched his wide shot.

Liverpool almost took advantage of the failure to score when Ederson allowed an Alexander-Arnold shot to slip out of his grip and roll towards the line, but grabbed the second down when Jota pounced on him.

The second half started at the same impressive pace with Andrew Robertson and De Bruyne attacking shots in both hands.

Jesus then had a glorious shot at a cross from Joao Cancelo, but put a free header out.

Liverpool suffered a blow after the time that Alexander-Arnold fell to the ground injured. He was replaced by James Milner and now he may have doubts for England next week.

Perhaps inevitably, the frantic pace slowed down in the later stages and both sides had to settle for a point.



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