The points were shared at Anfield as Liverpool and Manchester City drew 1-1 on Sunday but the real winner of this result is Arsenal. Due to their superior goal difference, the draw keeps Arsenal atop the Premier League, level on points with Liverpool while City trails the duo by one point. John Stones' first-half goal was canceled out as Ederson conceded a penalty that Alexis Mac Allister buried, but it was a level affair between the Premier League giants. Deadball situations made the difference in the match with both goals coming from them but with this result, the title race is balanced on a razor's edge.
For what could be the last managerial matchup between Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, the latter stepping down at season's end, it was a match fit for the occasion as the duo's chess match could be seen throughout. From Stones' opening goal coming from Kevin De Bruyne's inventiveness while taking a quick corner kick to Liverpool's adjustments in the second half, it had everything.
Virgil van Djik and Erling Haaland were locked in a one-on-one battle of titans of the game and no one winning their individual battle ended up foreshadowing the result of the match. Luis Diaz had multiple chances to win it for the Reds which he'd have wanted back but it was a match of moments. Ederson came close to saving Mac Allister's penalty but the placement was too perfect to stop.
Klopp was able to neutralize Haaland's impact while Mohamed Salah's introduction from the bench boosted the Reds in the second half but it didn't end up being enough to push for a victory. The good thing for Liverpool's title chances is that if they can close the seven-goal gap in goal difference on Arsenal, the title race is still in their hands while City will need help from others to lift consecutive Premier League titles, but with 10 games to go, anything can happen.
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While there was a VAR check to end the match, it was deemed that the collision was due to an unavoidable coming together between players but it was a thrilling match between top teams and managers where the draw was a fair result.
While there was contact in the box, it also seems like Salah was looking for a penalty but even after a review, it won't be given.
The second half may have seen Liverpool have better chances but the game is still hanging in the balance. Without de Bruyne on the pitch, Salah is the most likely player to provide that magic but it could come from anywhere.
Kevin De Bruyne isn't happy at all as he leaves the match in the 69th minute but Mateo Kovacic and Jeremy Doku will enter. Julian Alvarez is also being withdrawn as City looks to regain control.
Salah set up Luis Diaz who couldn't get his shot on target in what could go down as a massive missed chance with only 27 minutes of play remaining.
The chess pieces are in place as the energy can be felt in the match. After scoring their penalty, momentum has shifted to the Reds and it will only increase with their talisman now in the match. Salah has entered for Szoboszlai while Andrew Robertson has also come on for Conor Bradley.
After catching the ball, Ederson is down again due to a knock that he picked up when he conceded the penalty to Nunez. It is an issue with his right leg.
It was an excellent take at the perfect height to beat Ederson even with him guessing the right way to attempt to stop the penalty. Anfield is rocking yet again.
Ederson was caught out going for a challenge and clatters with Darwin Nunez. Liverpool now has a chance to go level from the spot.
Looking at the halftime stats, while Manchester City have four shots on target for an xG of 1.02 most of that came from Stone's finish from a corner kick. In open play, there hasn't been much to split the two teams which is where the introduction of Mo Salah can pull Liverpool level if City can't grab another goal quickly after the half.
There was an excellent moment between Virgil van Dijk and Erling Haaland as the Norwegian had the ball dribbling in open space. If van Dijk went into for a challenge, he would be at risk of being red carded but instead, he expertly kept Haaland into a tougher shooting position so Kelleher had a savable chance.
When Liverpool receives the ball, they're not able to make anything happen with it as City's efficiency has been impressive to start the match. Always having a man streaking forward, City hasn't needed many passes to put a shot on target.
There's the breakthrough as an inventive corner kick from Kevin De Bruyne reached the foot of the Englishman after Nathan Ake set a pick in the box. What a time for Stones to score his first goal of the season!
Darwin Nunez was played through and setup Luis Diaz but the flag was raised as the ball hit the back of the net. Liverpool are finding balance as the game is opening up entering the 20th minute.
Liverpool were able to push forward before a tactical foul from Kyle Walker, his second of the game, there was no yellow card given as Walker is playing an enforcer role in the early going.
City's shots may not have come from dangerous positions yet but they have control of midfield and are pushing forward too easily in the early going in the match. This is something that can change at a moment's notice with teams of this quality so Guardiola will want to take advantage of their early strength.
Julian Alvarez's shot on target may have been a tame effort but City are looking good in possession out of the gate in this match.
Anfield is rocking as the teams are off and running.
Their meeting on Sunday gives Guardiola a chance to address a head-to-head record that notably does not favor a coach who has had some of world football's most expensively assembled squads to call on. In 29 meetings between these two teams, Guardiola has won 11. Klopp has won 12 with Anfield proving to be a powerful weapon in his arsenal when these two face off. His City side have not won in front of a crowd at the ground since 2003, back when Guardiola was in the twilight of his playing career.
Asked what it is that makes the ground such a challenge for him, Guardiola said: "The crowd of course but especially the quality of the team. It has always been nice and we accept the challenge." -- James Bennge
Though paths may yet converge in the FA Cup, at the moment Sunday is all set to be the final encounter between Klopp and Guardiola, the end of a second act in a rivalry that has defined first German football and then English. Unlike many of the great rivalries in England -- Don Revie and Brian Clough, Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson, Rafael Benitez and Jose Mourinho -- the defining trait of this tussle for dominance has been the enduring respect between both parties.
That extends to what may be the last meeting before Klopp departs Anfield, the German using his pre-match press conference to insist that it would be an impossible job for whoever succeeds Guardiola at City, far harder than it will be for the next Liverpool boss. Klopp and Guardiola might be too focused on their work to have built a deep friendship but the former did at least hint at conversations between the two during the pandemic, when both lost their mothers. "He called and we had a talk, but I can't tell you what we said to each other," said Klopp. "I know things you would love to know!" -- James Benge
While Mohamed Salah is in the squad, he's only fit enough for the bench.
Starters: Kelleher, Bradley, Quansah, van Dijk, Gomez, Szoboszlai, Endo, Mac Allister, Elliott, Nunez, Diaz
Reserves: Salah, Adrian, Gakpo, Tsimikas, Robertson, Clark, McConnell, Nallo, Koumas
Guardiola is bringing out his best attackers for the occasion as Alvarez, De Bruyne, Foden, and Haaland all are in the lineup together.
Starters: Ederson, Ake, Akanji, Walker, Stones, Rodri, Alvarez, De Bruyne, Silva, Foden, Haaland
Reserves: Dias, Kovacic, Doku, Ortega, Gomez, Gvardiol, Nunes, Bobb, Lewis
It's Jurgen Klopp versus Pep Guardiola potentially for the last time as the Premier League title race hangs in the balance. Both teams may be trailing Arsenal but either can go to the top of the league with a victory in what will be a hard fought affair. Liverpool will suffer a blow as Mohamed Salah is only fit enough to feature from the bench but with Darwin Nunez finding form, there is no shortage of attacking power.
