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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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.
Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City
65 mins: Liverpool continue to pile on pressure. Mac Allister curls a shot from just outside the box, but Ortega is equal to it.
Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City
63 mins: CLOSE! Again it’s Diaz! Nunez plays a ball across from the right-hand side of the box and Diaz is clean through again, but the pass is a little behind him and his first touch allows Walker to get back and poke it behind.
From the corner, Salah has his first real involvement of the game as he hits a shot wide.
Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City
62 mins: CLOSE! City’s first attack ends with the ball being intercepted, and Diaz has the best chance of the half!
The Colombian is played through with a diagonal ball and he’s one-on-one with Ortega. He opens his body up to try and plant it in the far corner, but gets too much on it and it goes wide!
Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City
59 mins: Klopp clearly sees this as time to seize an opportunity, as he’s preparing to make some subs. Elsewhere, Silva is booked.
Liverpool are clearly in the ascendency now, with City losing the ball to easily. Gomez intercepts a pass and lays it to Szoboszlai, but his shot is wild and doesn’t trouble Ortega.
Szoboszlai and Bradley are replaced by Salah and Robertson.
Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City
56 mins: Ederson went straight down the tunnel as he came off, and he was holding his groin. City will hope he’s back as soon as possible; Ortega is a capable number two, but is he as reliable in possession?
The Anfield crowd is turning up the volume now. Quansah gets into trouble when he’s tackled by Alvarez on the edge of the box, but van Dijk saves him. Soon after, Kelleher saves from Foden.
Liverpool go up the other end, and Diaz is put through on goal, but his touch is poor and it runs to Ortega!
Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City
53 mins: Ederson is down, having seemingly injured himself in the challenge that led to the penalty. It looks like City are going to forced into the first substitution of the day.
The Brazilian is replaced by Stefan Ortega.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City
49 mins: GOAL! Alexis Mac Allister steps up. He waits for a little bit after the whistle, and blasts a penalty across his body and into the left-hand corner. Ederson dived the right way but that was an excellent penalty. 1-1, and Anfield has found its voice again.
PENALTY! Liverpool 0-1 Manchester City
46 mins: PENALTY! A stonewall penalty for Liverpool. Ake sells Ederson short on a backwards pass and Nunez is first to it. Ederson goes to kick it but just takes Nunez out, and it’s a penalty and yellow card for the Brazilian keeper.
HALF-TIME: Liverpool 0-1 Manchester City
Salah is indeed warming up, but there are no half-time changes from either side. Both teams are back out for the second half, with City getting us started once again.
HALF-TIME: Liverpool 0-1 Manchester City
So a John Stones goal is all that separates the two sides at the break. City have certainly been the better side, but Liverpool have had their chances and more possession (54 per cent to City’s 46). Both teams have had seven shots, with the away side having four on target and Liverpool having one.
City have lived dangerously at times, but have always been a threat, and only some uncharacteristically sloppy passes have stopped them from having more clear-cut opportunities.
The home side will have taken a lot of encouragement from that half though, with only the final product missing on one or two chances. You wonder when we’ll see Mo Salah.
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