Liverpool vs Man City LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Alexis Mac Allister penalty ensures draw
Jurgen Klopp faces Pep Guardiola for potentially the final time in the rivalry that has defined the Premier League in recent years - and could yet decide this season’s title race
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Your support makes all the difference.A game that had everything except a crescendo - and maybe some accuracy. As high as the standards to this rivalry have been over Jurgen Klopp’s time at Liverpool, there was a symbolism in how it was error that characterised another otherwise brilliant match against Manchester City. Liverpool lost John Stones for the first goal before a misplaced Nathan Ake pass gave up the equaliser, as so many chances were missed.
That may actually be better for the title race, since imperfection tends to produce much more drama than perfection. This 1-1 draw was certainly best for Arsenal, who stay top of the league on goal difference.
Such margins reflect how this game itself had echoes from then high ceilings of the first Liverpool-City title race in 2018-19, as there were so many near misses that may yet bring this down to mere millimetres again.
There was still the sense that Liverpool will feel they deserved more than the draw, although they can take considerable confidence from how a depleted side took it to City. Follow live reaction from Liverpool vs Manchester City below and get the latest match odds here.
Why does Liverpool v Man City kick off at an unusual time?
Liverpool and Manchester City meet once again in the Premier League, but Sunday’s clash has been given a unique kick-off time as Pep Guardiola’s side arrive at Anfield for a potential title decider.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds hold an excellent home record against Manchester City and Guardiola’s only victory at Anfield came in the season when matches were played without fans due to the pandemic.
Liverpool defeated City 1-0 at Anfield last season, in an ill-tempered clash packed full of incident, and now Klopp’s side lead Guardiola’s team by a point in the Premier League title race.
Tensions will be high as the champions return to Anfield and Klopp faces Guardiola on the touchline for potentially the final time in England.
The match will be kicking off at the unusual time of 3:45pm GMT on Sunday 10 March.
While televised matches on Sunday usually start at either 2pm or 4:30pm, with the later slot typically used for broadcasting the weekend’s standout fixture, it is believed the kick-off time was brought forward following a recommendation from local safety groups.
Why does Liverpool v Man City kick off at an unusual time?
The kick-off time for the reverse fixture at the Etihad was also changed earlier this season
5 memorable Premier League matches between Liverpool and Manchester City
April 2022: Man City 2 Liverpool 2
As another tight title race between the pair remained in the balance, the rivals were forced to settle for a draw at the Etihad Stadium. City created the most chances and twice led through De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus but Liverpool hit back each time with Diogo Jota and Mane on target. City were frustrated as Raheem Sterling had a goal ruled out in a tight VAR call and Riyad Mahrez hit the post but Guardiola’s men ultimately had the last laugh, again taking the title by a point.
5 memorable Premier League matches between Liverpool and Manchester City
November 2019: Liverpool 3 Man City 1
Liverpool finally ended their long wait for a Premier League title in 2019-20 and it became clear that momentum was in their favour as they edged out City on a tense afternoon at Anfield. A Fabinho piledriver gave the hosts an early lead as City raged about a penalty not given at the other end, seconds previously. Salah compounded City’s frustrations by heading a second soon after and Mane grabbed a third but Silva kept City in the contest and Guardiola was furious when another penalty appeal was dismissed.
5 memorable Premier League matches between Liverpool and Manchester City
January 2018: Liverpool 4 Man City 3
The second half of the 2017-18 campaign was when Liverpool really began to show their teeth under Klopp and proved they were an improving force that could maybe one day compete with City. They did not derail City’s title charge at Anfield, with Guardiola’s men going on to break the 100-point barrier, but gave them a bloody nose by inflicting their first defeat of the season. Sane cancelled out Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s early strike but three goals in nine minutes early in the second half from Roberto Firmino, Mane and Salah won it for Liverpool – despite late replies from Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan.
5 memorable Premier League matches between Liverpool and Manchester City
October 2021: Liverpool 2 Man City 2
A pulsating early-season encounter that justified the hype the fixture has come to attract under the era-defining stewardships of Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and Guardiola at City. All the key action came in the second half as Sadio Mane swept Liverpool ahead before Phil Foden levelled with a fine strike. Mohamed Salah produced a moment of magic to weave through the box and restore the hosts’ lead but Kevin De Bruyne earned a draw with a long-range effort.
5 memorable Premier League matches between Liverpool and Manchester City
January 2019: Man City 2 Liverpool 1
City and Liverpool were engaged in a ferocious title battle in 2018-19 in which the standards set by both reached new heights. After a thrilling run-in, it was Pep Guardiola’s side who eventually came out on top by a just single point – an outcome which emphasised the importance of their win over the Reds in January. Goals from Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane either side of a Roberto Firmino brace were the telling statistics, but the most critical moment proved to be a goal-line clearance by John Stones as the City defender swept the ball away with just 1.12cm to spare.
Jurgen Klopp makes bold Pep Guardiola claim before Liverpool showdown with Man City
Jurgen Klopp has hailed Pep Guardiola as the outstanding manager of his lifetime and said he has “no idea” why he has a winning record against his Manchester City counterpart.
They will meet for potentially the last time on Sunday when Klopp, who has 12 victories and 11 defeats against the Catalan in a duel that dates back to their day at Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich respectively, takes charge of Liverpool against City.
But Klopp insists it is not a rivalry and said he is not frustrated that he would have won far more but for Guardiola, who has secured five Premier League titles to his one from their time together in England.
The Liverpool manager said: “I don’t feel it is a rivalry, I understand you call it that. We are both pretty competitive and we both want to win games and we both are blessed with having really good players in our teams but it is not a rivalry.”
Pep Guardiola: Man City must ‘overcome absolutely everything’ at Liverpool
Pep Guardiola has appeared to put pressure on referee Michael Oliver by suggesting Manchester City have to “overcome absolutely everything” as they head to Liverpool for a crunch title showdown.
“We cannot control what happens in these stadiums with the referees,” he said. “We have to do better. It’s the only thing we can do. It’s not the first time, it will not be the last.
“We have to overcome these situations and to do the peak achievement, of trying to fight for the fourth Premier League in a row, that no team have done, never ever, this is the type of challenge we have to face – overcome absolutely everything.
“Otherwise will be difficult, in this case, to win on Sunday. But, whatever happens, I’m pretty sure we’ll perform well.
“And, whatever happens, still we’ll have many, many games to play. This is a really important game for the title challenge, but I still have the feeling that many things are going to happen.”
Pep Guardiola embraces the challenge of ending Man City’s poor record at Anfield
Pep Guardiola is ready for the challenge as he takes champions Manchester City to Liverpool for a crucial Premier League title showdown on Sunday.
City head to Merseyside trailing Jurgen Klopp’s side by a point for a match of huge significance at the top of the table.
Guardiola’s side go into the game as favourites to win the title for what would be a fourth successive season, and a sixth time in seven years, but their record at Anfield is poor.
City have won just once there in front of a crowd since 1981, and that was as long ago as 2003.
Pep Guardiola embraces the challenge of ending Man City’s poor record at Anfield
City take on leaders Liverpool in a crucial match in the Premier League title race.
Liverpool v Man City: A season, a title race and a legacy come down to these 90 minutes
So a title race, a rivalry and a legacy comes down to this? Here’s Miguel Delaney’s preview ahead of today’s huge clash:
“Jurgen Klopp is typically insisting on ultra focus from his squad but those around him are inevitably wondering whether the Liverpool manager is considering the greater scale of everything right now. It might only become apparent in the little details. These few days, for example, could be the last time Klopp figures out how to restrict space around Kevin De Bruyne. It might even be the last time he faces Pep Guardiola.
“Yes, Sunday’s battle for first place is also the start of a series of “finals”, as the end is near. It is perhaps fitting that Liverpool vs Manchester City should initially get everyone thinking like this because you could forgive Klopp wanting to consign this fixture to the past as quickly as possible.
“This is the pairing that has most defined his time in England, and most frustrated him.”
Liverpool v Man City: A title race and a legacy come down to these 90 minutes
Anfield victors will top the Premier League table but Arsenal will be watching on as Jurgen Klopp bids to further his achievements before a summer departure
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