April 10, (THEWILL) – Manchester City and Liverpool drew 2-2 on Sunday afternoon in what was regarded as a potential title decider, but that finished with a result that keeps Pep Guardiola’s side still one point ahead of their nearest rivals with just seven games remaining.
Three goals were scored in a tense first half, despite City being the dominant force throughout.
Kevin De Bruyne rose to the occasion again and let fly from range not long after Raheem Sterling had spurned a one-on-one situation five minutes in. His strike took a huge deflection off Joel Matip and flashed past Alisson Becker in the Liverpool goal for the opener.
Despite having little of the ball in the first half, Liverpool equalised just eight minutes later when Andy Robertson’s deep cross was headed back across goal by Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Diogo Jota was on hand to sweep home with a touch from goalkeeper Ederson Moraes.
That did not affect the game’s pattern, with City frequently exploiting the Reds’ high line and getting in behind. John Stones came close to scoring, but he was unable to reach Rodri’s header across the penalty box.
On the half-hour mark, De Bruyne dragged another shot just wide following superb work from Joao Cancelo, and five minutes later, the full-back pulled one just wide of the post himself.
Cancelo’s beautiful deep cross found Gabriel Jesus’ sneaky back-post run, and the Brazilian superbly half-volleyed into the roof of the net via a soft contact with the crossbar, confirming the hosts’ domination.
They piled forward again and Phil Foden came in behind Liverpool, but Andy Robertson was able to redirect his low pass away from danger, to prevent Sterling from scoring. In first-half stoppage time, Foden had the ball in the net himself, but the whistle had already been blown for a controversial foul on Sadio Mane in the build-up.
Liverpool finally got on the front foot and took the game to their League rivals in the second half, which was significantly more closely matched.
Jurgen Klopp must have given his team a good pep talk, for the Reds drew level early in the second half. Mane ruthlessly dispatched Mohamed Salah’s superbly weighted through ball, firing first time into the top corner.
Salah was involved again shortly after when Jota’s prod forced a save from Moraes, indicating that Liverpool had finally found their groove.
At the other end, Jesus was denied a brace after coming inside from the touchline and beating Alisson, but his low effort was blocked by Virgil van Dijk.
City again came close when De Bruyne slid Sterling through and he finished low past Alisson shortly after the hour mark. City initially thought they had recovered the lead in the tight encounter, but VAR judged that Sterling was offside and the goal was chalked off.
With 20 minutes remaining, Liverpool came within a whisker of taking the lead for the first time, but Salah’s looping effort went just wide off Aymeric Laporte’s hip.
In the final minute of normal time, substitute Riyad Mahrez came the closest to regaining the Citizens’ lead, but his 30-yard free kick smacked off the outside of the post. The Algerian then failed to convert when played in by De Bruyne’s brilliant ball in the final minute of stoppage time, lifting a weak chip over the bar.
City’s lead at the top of the Premier League was maintained when the game ended all square. With seven games remaining and City leading by the tiniest of margins, this title battle might go down to the wire.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
