The English football champions from Manchester around coach Pep Guardiola and the “Reds” parted on Sunday evening with a performance-related 2: 2 (2: 1). With seven games remaining, City are a point ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s side, whose team ended a run of ten league wins in a row.
In a furious top game at the Etihad Stadium, City director Kevin De Bruyne put his “Skyblues” in the lead after just five minutes. The Belgian’s shot from around 18 meters out was deflected by Joel Matip. The “Reds” only had to wait eight minutes for an answer: After a perfectly played action, Diogo Jota equalized from a short distance. A little later, Gabriel Jesus (36) sank a cross from Joao Cancelo in the Liverpool goal, it was the Brazilian’s first league goal since the end of September.
Less than 60 seconds after the restart, Mohamed Salah served his striker colleague Sadio Mane in an exemplary manner, the former Salzburg player scored the equalizer again (46′). A goal by Raheem Sterling (64′) was disallowed by VAR for a minor offside position. In the 90th minute, the home fans in the stadium almost cheered, but joker Riyad Mahrez first put a free kick on the outside bar and shortly afterwards missed the match point after a counterattack. The first leg in October at Anfield Road had already ended 2-2.
“There are still seven games left after that, there are still 21 points to be awarded. No one will become a champion today,” Guardiola said before the game on Sky Sports. While City only have two opponents from the top half of the table in West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Liverpool still have to play against Manchester United, Tottenham or the “Wolves”, among others.
In addition, both clubs are aiming to win the Champions League, both winning their quarter-final first legs. Liverpool had little trouble at Benfica Lisbon (3-1) and wants to confidently move into the semi-finals of the premier class on Wednesday evening, City is challenged at the same time in Madrid after beating Atletico 1-0. The two giants will face each other again in the semi-finals of the FA Cup in Manchester next Saturday.
Source: Nachrichten
