Man City vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Riyad Mahrez wastes huge late chance
Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool: Follow the reaction from a thrilling draw in the Premier League as the leaders stay ahead in the title race
Manchester City and Liverpool shared the points in a thrilling draw at the Etihad as the visitors equalised twice to keep the title race alive, despite the Premier League leaders maintaining their slender advantage.
It was City who struck first in a lightening start as Kevin De Bruyne skipped past Fabinho and fired a deflected effort past goalkeeper Alisson inside five minutes, but the Reds responded well and Diogo Jota pulled them level less than 10 minutes later.
Gabriel Jesus, a surprise inclusion in Pep Guardiola’s team, fired the hosts back in front before the break as he latched onto the end of Joao Cancelo’s excellent delivery. Liverpool hit back again, though, as Sadio Mane finished Mohamed Salah’s brilliant pass to equalise just 47 seconds after the restart.
Liverpool were much improved after the break but were handed a lifeline when Raheem Sterling’s goal was disallowed by VAR for offside, before Salah saw a curling effort deflect wide. Riyad Mahrez hit the post with a late free kick, before wasting a huge chance as the breathless contest ended level.
Follow all the reaction and updates as Manchester City and Liverpool shared the points in this potential Premier League decider:
Half-time: Man City 2 - 1 Liverpool
45+2 mins: An extraordinary first half comes to an end with Manchester City taking a slender lead into the break. Pep Guardiola’s men have been the better team. They’ve broken Liverpool down on multiple occasions and could have had even more goals.
Jurgen Klopp needs to change something. Liverpool have had no authority in possession but they look dangerous when they’ve had the ball in City’s final third.
Man City 2 - 1 Liverpool
45 mins: Chance! Alexander-Arnold has a little tug at Sterling and gives away a free kick on the left wing. Cancelo swings this one into the box and picks out Laporte who fires a half-volley at Alisson forcing the goalkeeper to push the effort onto the post!
Then the offside flag goes up. Two added minutes to play.
Man City 2 - 1 Liverpool
43 mins: Henderson’s through ball sees Diogo Jota into the box and he’s got a couple of options. Either shoot or slide it across to Mo Salah. He does neither and Aymeric Laporte slides across to stop his run and win the ball for the home side.
Man City 2 - 1 Liverpool
40 mins: It’s a deserved goal for Manchester City who have created more chances in this first half. When they’ve got in behind Liverpool they could have scored another two goals at least.
Mo Salah’s had a quiet day so far but manages to squeeze the ball into the box for Sadio Mane. He tries to lay it off to a forward pushing Joel Matip but Rodri manages to scoop the ball away.
GOAL! Man City 2 - 1 Liverpool (Jesus, 37’)⚽️
37 mins: City are back in front! The home side when a corner that Kevin De Bruyne swings into the box. Joel Matip wins the initial ball and heads it out as far as Joao Cancelo. Liverpool try to push the back line up to the edge of the box and play another offside trap but Cancelo has time on the ball and flicks it over to the far side of the penalty area. Matip is a little slow getting forward and Gabriel Jesus keeps himself onside and he bursts into the box. Alisson comes out to grab the ball but it bounces nearer to Jesus who lifts it over the keeper and sends it home off the underside of the crossbar!
Man City 1 - 1 Liverpool
33 mins: Chance! Liverpool’s high line is a blessing and a curse. A simple ball over the top sees Joao Cancelo drift in behind Trent Alexander-Arnold and he has enought pace to carry the ball into the box and blast a shot into the side-netting. Most of the time Liverpool’s offside trap works but they look very vulnerable when in doesn’t.
Man City 1 - 1 Liverpool
30 mins: Half an hour played and kick off seems like it happened five minutes ago. The game is being played at a blistering tempo.
Liverpool sweep forward down the right wing and play it across to Sadio Mane. He slides it into the box for Andy Robertson’s overlapping run but Kyle Walker gets across to block his ball into the middle of the penalty area.
Man City 1 - 1 Liverpool
27 mins: Ederson is calmly living dangerously. He lets a backpass to dribble to within an inch of crossing the line before sliding the ball square to Laporte as Jota slides in to try and intercept.
He’s also pushing way up the pitch so much so that Alexander-Arnold spots him off his line and goes for a spectacular shot from just inside City’s half. He doesn’t catch it well though and the City goalkeeper gets back in time.
Man City 1 - 1 Liverpool
24 mins: City win a free kick on the right side that gets flicked over the Liverpool’s high line. Rodri times is run into the box perfectly and nods the ball down but none of his teammates can get to it before it bounces wide of the right-hand post.
Man City 1 - 1 Liverpool
21 mins: Man City look class, they’ve won the ball high up the pitch on a few occasions already and are causing some problems around the penalty area.
Foden gets played in behind but his cutback can’t find a teammate and Thiago flicks the clearance over to Mo Salah.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments