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The last time Liverpool were around these parts, they played as if they were celebrating being champions.
This latest visit to the Etihad, however, underscored why no one should rule out the possibility that they will pop corks and dance around a stage once more in May.
A tense and sometimes grueling fight with Manchester City saw the Reds secure what could become the most hard-won, and most important, point of the Premier League campaign.
If a devastating first half demonstrated the qualities of both sides, the second illustrated the sheer grafting, character, and bloody mindset required to chisel out such results as the duo struggled to a standstill.
Few could argue with the final result, even if Liverpool required the rare sight of Kevin De Bruyne taking a deflected penalty to secure parity, as Gabriel Jesus had earlier equaled Mohamed Salah’s first goal.
These are still the two best teams in the Premier League, two of the best in Europe.
And while tired legs certainly contributed to the uneven second period, the first 45 minutes were a showcase in which Liverpool took the game to their opponents.
“You cannot face City without concentrating 100%,” Jurgen Klopp said before the game, admitting that eyes were not quite on the ball when his team, which days earlier had been crowned the title winner for the first time in 30 years. , were defeated 4-0 at City in July.
There was no repeat here, the Reds, led by the entry of another captain from Jordan Henderson, clinched their first point at Etihad since the 2016/17 season.
It wasn’t without cost, as Trent Alexander-Arnold limped off with a suspected calf problem, the latest victim of the intense workload on top players that both Klopp and his City counterpart Pep Guardiola took on. they later regretted.
However, the Liverpool side have already proved their worth, especially in dealing with the prolonged absence of Virgl van Dijk.
Joe Gomez continues to impressively take on the added responsibility, along with the constant Joel Matip for a pair of 37th starting center backs under Klopp, while Alisson Becker’s safe drive and sweep offered another level of protection.
Since being humiliated at Aston Villa, Liverpool have built a seven-match unbeaten streak to be just one point from the top of the Premier League and on the brink of the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Already this season, trips to Stamford Bridge, Goodison and now Etihad have contributed five points and provided a solid foundation in a season like no other.
Sure, there will be regrets. Liverpool regularly found themselves beating City’s defense during the first half, but too often they were guilty of overworking or, oddly, choosing not to shoot.
In previous years, the Reds have sought to take the lead early on at the Etihad, only to miss the opening goal and then find themselves slowly giving up the lead to City. Fortunately, his early efforts paid off this time.
The bold decision to place both Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino in a 4-2-3-1 formation – Jota to the right, Firmino behind Salah up – almost paid immediate dividends.
City were caught from kick-off, Firmino cleared for Alexander-Arnold, but City goalkeeper Ederson alert enough to run from his line to block the shot attempt.
But it only took 13 minutes for the Reds to get ahead when a stylish Sadio Mane costume after accepting Andy Robertson’s pass caused a panicky Kyle Walker to slow the Senegalese long enough for a penalty, Salah confidently converting from the spot. point. It is 10 o’clock in the season for the Egyptian.
City slowly played their way back into the game, Alisson making a decent save from Raheem Sterling after Gini Wijnaldum had previously been dispossessed.
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And the hosts tied in the 31st minute when they moved the ball to their right and made room for Kevin De Bruyne to find Jesus, who tricked Alexander-Arnold before kicking past Alisson.
While City were unhappy with Liverpool’s preparation for the first game that a possible foul by Jota on Sterling was not penalized, they did have the green touch three minutes before halftime when, after consulting the pitch monitor, referee Craig Pawson awarded a kick spot after it was judged that Gomez had handled the De Bruyne cross while trying to get his arm out of the way.
However, De Bruyne sent his penalty deflected off Alisson’s right post, the first player to miss a shot from point of view in a Premier League game since Riyad Mahrez swept Anfield in October 2018.
Liverpool were close to regaining the lead shortly before the break when Ederson grabbed close to the line after initially spilling an Alexander-Arnold angled drive.
After so much excitement, the second half was a matter of attrition, Jesus sent a free header and Salah close as the game tightened. Both teams, physically and mentally exhausted, were more than happy to avoid defeat when the final whistle came.
So early in the season, there was no chance that any of the title rivals would land a decisive blow.
Liverpool, however, have sent a clear message to those who want to snatch their crown. They are still the team to beat.
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