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The hosts had a better first half, even though they conceded first. In reality, the loose ball became irritating to the “townspeople” and made them intensify their constructive actions. Guardiola’s sentries recovered and were able to get ahead. Bad luck. But after the break, the guests have already made more efforts to win. However, neither team won three points, they attacked with little force, they did not want to risk and they thought more about their goal. Critically, it wasn’t enough to create scoring chances, so scoring is natural.
The rivals managed to exchange not very dangerous attacks in the opening, the Lersisides looked a bit more active, probably not by chance the guests earned a penalty. Robertson made a good pass to the penalty area, Walker dropped Mane, who went to aggravate, and the referee made the right decision, signaling a penalty spot. Salah shot straight into the left corner.
Immediately, Guardiola’s team took the initiative, took full control of midfield and began to shoot more and more at goal. Of course, De Bruyne was the main controller of the attacks and Sterling had the most realistic chance of scoring. In the 25th minute, Alison took the hardest hit from Rahim.
And yet the ball ended up in the “red” goal. Jesús played with skill, in the penalty area he took the ball with a touch, turned around and shot without swing, as if with a rapier he inflicted a fatal thrust on an opponent. In this episode, alone, I remembered the injured van Dyck, he definitely would not have made such a mistake and did not give the Brazilian as much space in his penalty area.
“Man City” kept pumping and took advantage of the temporary confusion of Klopp’s charges. The flanks were especially active with the owners. Shortly before the break, De Bruyne shot from the right wing, Gomez played too carelessly, reached out and interrupted the Belgian’s center. Another penalty was designated by the referee and there should be no questions for him. Fortunately for Liverpool, De Bruyne fired inaccurately from 11 meters, the ball flying close to the post.
In the second half, the Lersisiders looked more interesting, not enough to give the “citizens” much trouble, but they still attacked more and created a couple of good opportunities. Mane, Zhota and Firmino took good positions, it is quite strange that Salah was almost invisible. In “Man City” it is necessary to point out Jesus, who gave more than one hundred percent, but lacked support from the depths.
In the final minutes, it became clear that the world match suits the opponents. A long rally in the center circle, then something like an attack that ended without a hit. And if there was a hit, the defenders blocked it in time. There was a lot of positional fighting in this game, but there wasn’t a feeling of principled character and enough will to win. The teams are probably not in the best shape yet.
After a hiatus due to national team games in the Nations League, the teams will face off against equally simple opponents. On the ninth day of the Premier League, Liverpool will host Leicester, by the way, leaders of the championship. The Foxes made the most of the Reds draw. And “Man City” will play away with “Tottenham”, currently the second team in the championship. It will be interesing.
APL. The eighth round
Stadium: Etihad Stadium (Manchester)
Head Judge: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)
Manchester City – Liverpool 1: 1
Goals: Jesus 31 – Salah 12 (pen)
In the 42nd minute, De Bruyne missed the penalty.
“City of Manchester”: Ederson – Walker, Dias, Laporte, Canselo – De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan – Torres (Silva 61), Gabriel Jesus, Sterling.
“Liverpool”: Alisson – Alexander-Arnold (Milner 63), Matip, Gomes, Robertson – Henderson, Veynaldum – Jota, Firmino (Shakiri 59), Mane – Salah.
Warnings: Sterling 61, Laporte 79, Walker 90 + 3 – Matip 46
