Manchester City survived a second-half barrage from Liverpool to hold on for a 1-1 draw in a thrilling encounter at Anfield which leaves Arsenal top of the Premier League.
The final Premier League meeting between Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola lived up to its billing as the injury-hit hosts roared back from John Stones’ clever first-half opener from a corner.
Alexis Mac Allister scored the leveller from the penalty spot early in the second period after Ederson had wiped out Darwin Nunez from Nathan Ake’s poor backpass, injuring himself in the process.
Klopp’s side, with Ibrahima Konate added to their injury list and with Mohamed Salah only fit enough to feature as a substitute, had been second best in the first half but dominated the rest of the game, missing a succession of chances, with Luis Diaz the main culprit.
A thrilling contest, which featured Kevin De Bruyne angrily remonstrating with Guardiola after being substituted, almost took another twist when City substitute Jeremy Doku struck a low shot against the inside of the post in the 89th minute.
The City winger then survived a VAR check for a penalty after a high-boot challenge on Mac Allister deep in stoppage time.
In the end, though, the two sides could not be separated, the draw leaving Arsenal top of the table ahead of second-placed Liverpool on goal difference, with City a point further back in third place.
How the epic encounter played out
Manchester City sought to dampen the feverish atmosphere early on, controlling possession and twice calling Kelleher into action through shots from Julian Alvarez and De Bruyne.
Liverpool held out, though, and soon started applying pressure at the other end, with Conor Bradley’s wicked low cross flashing just beyond the onrushing Nunez at the back post.
It seemed the hosts were moving into the ascendency but it all changed with City’s inspired corner routine for the opener as Ake blocked off Mac Allister at the near post and Stones got away from Nunez to turn in De Bruyne’s low delivery.
Liverpool tried to respond, with Dominik Szoboszlai heading wastefully over from Harvey Elliott’s floated cross and Diaz firing a low shot narrowly wide, but Nunez summed up their frustration, straying offside on five separate occasions in the first half alone.
Meanwhile, at the other end, City continued to look the more threatening side, with De Bruyne shooting wide and Alvarez firing over the bar before a low cross by Kyle Walker flew just out of reach of De Bruyne following a rapid breakaway in first-half stoppage time.
A frantic game became even wilder after the break, with Liverpool winning their penalty after less than two minutes as Ederson came sprinting out of his goal and clattered Nunez as he threatened to latch onto Ake’s carelessly underhit backpass.
It was shoddy play all-round from City and Ederson injured himself in the process, the goalkeeper having to make way for Stefan Ortega after being beaten by Mac Allister’s well-struck penalty.
Liverpool were indebted to Kelleher for denying Foden soon after that, but from that point on the hosts peppered the City goal, the momentum of the game completely reversed from the first half.
Diaz, a constant menace to City, could easily have had a hat-trick, his poor touch preventing him from going through on goal on one occasion before he clipped wide from a sensational Salah pass and then failed to get a shot off from Nunez’s inviting cut-back.
Salah, Mac Allister and Nunez had chances too as Liverpool, roared on by the home crowd, laid siege to the City goal, with Ortega making a particularly smart save from the returning Egyptian.
City’s frustration was clear as De Bruyne, outstanding in the first half, reacted angrily to his substitution, continuing to hold a heated discussion with Guardiola even after taking his seat.
Liverpool finished the second half with 12 shots to City’s three but the visitors almost nicked the three points when Doku’s effort bounced back off the post.
The Belgian then had a scare up at the other end in stoppage time when his high boot on Mac Allister prompted a VAR check, but he was cleared by the officials, allowing City to hold on for a draw in another thrilling chapter of an epic rivalry.
What’s next?
Liverpool are back at Anfield on Thursday for their second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against Sparta Prague. Kick-off 8pm. The Reds then travel to Manchester United three days later on Sunday March 17 for their FA Cup quarter-final. Kick-off 3.30pm.
Manchester City host Newcastle in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday March 16, kick-off 5.30pm. Arsenal then visit the Etihad Stadium after the international break on Sunday March 31, live on Sky Sports. Kick-off 4.30pm.
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