Liverpool and Man City play out defining clash as title favourites emerge
Pep Guardiola will have to do some sweet-talking to Kevin De Bruyne and there will be some physical and mental bruises in their ranks that need to heal.
But when the spoils are given out at the end of this Premier League season, this might yet prove to be an afternoon that swayed the title City’s way. Considering they sit third in a three-horse race, that sounds a very fanciful thing to say.
In this vein of form on the Jurgen Klopp farewell tour, this Liverpool team could win every one of their remaining Premier League matches and that would be it for City. Arsenal could do likewise on their ten-game run, which goes via the Etihad at the end of this month.
And after taking a lead at Anfield and looking relatively comfortable, there will be some who see this as a big chance missed by the champions. But when the dust settles on a monumental tussle, this could still prove to be a precious point earned by Guardiola’s side, because after they gifted Liverpool an equaliser early in the second half, the away side was attacked with such passion, bombarded with such fervour, that defeat seemed inevitable.
City were as rattled as you will ever see them but somehow held on, dug deep, and could even have won it. In fact, Jeremy Doku could have won it and could have lost it, hitting the inside of a Liverpool post before escaping punishment for a high penalty-box challenge on Alexis Mac Allister.
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But a draw between two fine teams seemed an appropriate result. The mutual respect in this fixture is not confined to the managers, the rivalry between the two sets of players very rarely straying into downright enmity.
John Stones scores from a corner at the near post to put Man City ahead (AFP via Getty Images)And once again, this was full-blooded rather than bad-blooded, Ederson’s penalty concession perhaps the most violent moment of the day. Not only did that moment prove to be Ederson’s final significant contribution to proceedings, it transformed a match that City seemed to have under control.
And it was a moment that is always in City’s locker, the composed nature of their defending so often bordering on the casual. Inside a febrile Anfield, it does not pay to be laid back. The argument about things meaning more to Liverpool is one that their fans trot out just to wind people up - and it obviously works.
Ederson took out Darwin Nunez in the box to hand Liverpool a penalty (AFP via Getty Images)It is nonsense, of course, but what is undeniable is that home advantage really is a thing at this stadium. Quite clearly, Guardiola’s men were rattled by the raucousness after Mac Allister had converted from the spot to cancel out the John Stones opener.
Guardiola was concerned to such an extent that De Bruyne was hooked not too long afterwards, engaging in a frank discussion with his manager after his number went up in lights. The Belgian’s frustration was understandable but while he has produced some vintage form recently, it is fair to say his long injury lay-off has meant De Bruyne has not been fully up to speed when it comes to the defensive duties demanded by his manager.
Alexis Mac Allister celebrates after drawing Liverpool level from the penalty spot (AFP via Getty Images)In City’s hectic finale to the season, don’t be surprised if De Bruyne is not the automatic starter he once was, particularly if his side face challenges as robust as this one. Once again, Klopp and his side showed how this machine can be dismantled, showed how physical intensity can play havoc with City’s elegant stride.
A rough estimate would suggest Liverpool players won about two thirds of what you would describe as 50-50 contests. But that is why Guardiola can be proud of his men, who faced up to everything Liverpool, Klopp and Anfield had to throw at them … and emerged undefeated.
This could still be one of the title race’s defining days.
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