Liverpool saw their 10-game winning streak in the league end, a series that helped them reduce City’s lead at the top by just one point. He had reached 14 in January, although City had played two extra games. “A fake lead,” Guardiola called it. But, again, Liverpool will think that this was not the worst result for her. There was pulsating drama, Liverpool dug deep to find a pair of draws, the second from Santos Mane at the beginning of the second half gave her something to keep alive the dream of four trophies. Diogo Jota had scored their first. City, who had led the excellent Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus, made their move at the end. As a change, Riyad Mahrez had just solved a foul on his crossbar. Now, deep in the delays, De Bruyne is playing. With Allison out of line, he punched in to set up the finish just to throw it too high. Liverpool could exhale. At least until the two teams meet again in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday. The rivalry between the clubs was relatively short, sparking 2017-18 – the season in which Liverpool knocked City out of the Champions League – but has burned with a rare ferocity. each takes the other to new heights. Against the background of the love of Guardiola / Jürgen Klopp, there was a strong case to say that these teams are now the best in Europe. The desire to be the best in every moment, every duel. City took the first blood and, if De Bruyne’s goal was missed by good luck, his shot from the edge of the box deflecting a huge deflection from Joel Matip and flying over Allison was a reward for positivity. of his team in the beginning. Guardiola had set up an impressive 4-2-1-3 formation, Bernardo Silva provided some security to Rodri’s left and De Bruyne with a free role behind center-back Rahim Sterling. The extremists, Jesus and Phil Foden, were pushed high. It was De Bruyne who set Jesus free in the fourth minute and when the Brazilian made the cross, Sterling had to score. His finish was weak and Allison saved. Kevin De Bruyne celebrates his first goal. Photo: Andrew Yates / EPA De Bruyne’s attempt for 1-0 followed a quick foul by City and it seemed as if he escaped from Fambino more or less easily before getting rid of him with his left foot. Liverpool rattled in front of City’s speed and aggression and yet they were tied in the 13th minute after their first push forward. What a push it was, Andy Robertson skillfully chased the crossbar after his team had worked the ball from right to left and Trent Alexander-Arnold returns with a volley for the first time for Jota to sweep home. Should Anderson have saved? It must have been slow to come down. The City goalkeeper had twice terribly casual possession up to that point and stood out in the 23rd minute when he tried to clear and almost let the ball go into his own goal. In the end, he played his way through as Jota slipped inside. Anderson appeared addicted to emotions. City dominated the first half, making repeated incursions through high balls into the canals, taking advantage of the space behind the Liverpool backs. De Bruyne and Joao Cancello shot in front of the crossbar after entering from the left, while City’s second goal was also the result of coming from behind Liverpool’s high defensive line. Cancello hit over a cross from the left, after Liverpool had sent off a corner and, if there were four blue shirts in offside positions, the fifth around the back, which was Jesus, was not. He was equivalent to Alexander-Arnold and led his finish to the roof of the net. City could have had more before the interval. Rodrigo missed out on John Stones when he tried to head after a foul and Robertson pulled out his toe to overthrow Sterling after a Fontaine cross. Aymeric Laporte made a significant tackle to stifle Jota, but Liverpool knew they had to do more. Raheem Sterling scored Allison 2-2, but VAR showed they were offside when he played. Photo: Martin Rickett / PA What makes Klopp’s team so special is that they often only need a glimpse to turn things around – a few passes, a moment of inspiration. Immediately after the restart, they found Guardiola to fall into his place in disbelief. The venues were there behind the city defenses. Now that Liverpool had found one, Salah was passing through an Alexander-Arnold pass to free Mané, who had been ousted by Kyle Walker. The finish of the first time was emphatic and Jota would go close a little later, Anderson stretched to save, City’s defense again torn after Salah’s cross. The Fiver: sign up and receive our daily football email. The result seemed to be balanced on the edge of a knife, the margins are so nice – as it turns out when the VAR lines came out to deny Sterling in the 63rd minute after he ran on a ball by De Bruyne to finish. There were millimeters in it. Risk-taking was intense on both sides. The back lines remained high and he felt that any of the attacking players could run to steal it in the final stages – only if the pass could be selected. He made an impressive spectacle. Mahrez would have a great opportunity in the open game. How he will want his time again.
