Manchester City retained their slender one-point advantage at the top of the Premier League as they fought out a classic draw with closest rivals Liverpool at Etihad Stadium.
The meeting between the country’s two outstanding sides lived up to its pre-match billing and in the end there was nothing to separate them, with the destination of the title still hanging in the balance with seven games remaining.
City flew out of the blocks to take an early lead through Kevin de Bruyne’s deflected strike but Liverpool were quickly on terms when Diogo Jota turned home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s pass.
Pep Guardiola’s side dominated a magnificent first 45 minutes but failed to convert a host of chances before Gabriel Jesus stole in behind Alexander-Arnold to restore their lead from Joao Cancelo’s cross nine minutes before the break.
Liverpool had been strangely nervous but came out rejuvenated after the re-start, equalising when Sadio Mane celebrated his 30th birthday by scoring from Mohamed Salah’s perfect pass in the 47th minute.
Raheem Sterling had a goal ruled out for offside as both sides pressed for a winner in this superb match, City substitute Riyad Mahrez wasting a chance to win it in the dying seconds as he lifted his finish over the top.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Man City
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Ederson
- 2Walker
- 5Stones
- 14Laporte
- 27Cancelo
- 20Bernardo SilvaBooked at 40mins
- 16Rodri
- 17De Bruyne
- 9Gabriel JesusSubstituted forGrealishat 83′minutes
- 7SterlingSubstituted forMahrezat 75′minutes
- 47Foden
Substitutes
- 6Aké
- 8Gündogan
- 10Grealish
- 11Zinchenko
- 13Steffen
- 25Fernandinho
- 26Mahrez
- 87McAtee
- 90Lavia
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 32Matip
- 4van DijkBooked at 89mins
- 26RobertsonBooked at 28mins
- 14HendersonSubstituted forKeïtaat 78′minutes
- 3FabinhoBooked at 83mins
- 6Thiago AlcántaraBooked at 61mins
- 11Salah
- 20JotaSubstituted forDÃazat 70′minutes
- 10ManéSubstituted forFirminoat 84′minutes
Substitutes
- 5Konaté
- 7Milner
- 8Keïta
- 9Firmino
- 12Gomez
- 17Jones
- 21Tsimikas
- 23DÃaz
- 62Kelleher
- Referee:
- Anthony Taylor
- Attendance:
- 53,197
Live Text
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Match ends, Manchester City 2, Liverpool 2.
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Second Half ends, Manchester City 2, Liverpool 2.
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Attempt missed. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne with a through ball following a fast break.
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Foul by Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City).
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Fabinho (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) hits the left post with a left footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
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Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool).
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Foul by Rodri (Manchester City).
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Thiago (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Substitution, Liverpool. Roberto Firmino replaces Sadio Mané.
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Substitution, Manchester City. Jack Grealish replaces Gabriel Jesus.
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Fabinho (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Fabinho (Liverpool).
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Substitution, Liverpool. Naby Keïta replaces Jordan Henderson.
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Attempt missed. Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right following a corner.
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Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Rodri.
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Substitution, Manchester City. Riyad Mahrez replaces Raheem Sterling.
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