Thrilling City-Liverpool draw leaves title race on knife edge

MANCHESTER: Manchester City and Liverpool performed out a compelling 2-2 draw on the Etihad on Sunday  (Apr 10) that leaves the defending champions only one level away from their rivals on the high of the Premier League.

Goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus both facet of a Diogo Jota strike put City 2-1 up at half-time however Sadio Mane levelled seconds after the restart to vary the tone of the match.

But neither facet may discover a winner, leaving the league title too near name with simply seven matches to go.

Billed as one of many largest matches in Premier League historical past – between two of the best sides English soccer has seen – the competition at a crackling Etihad lived as much as the hype.

After a cagey opening, the sport abruptly burst into life.

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker raced off his line to disclaim Raheem Sterling, who was arrange by Jesus as the house facet attacked in earnest for the primary time.

But the Brazil worldwide was powerless to stop De Bruyne’s wickedly deflected opening objective within the fifth minute after he was fed by a fast free-kick.

The Belgium midfielder skipped previous Fabinho and fired in a shot which hit defender Joel Matip and went in off the far submit.

A steward needed to take away a blue flare from the pitch as residence followers celebrated and the momentum was all with City.

But their wild celebrations had been lower quick simply eight minutes later when Jota scored his fifteenth Premier League objective of the season.

Andy Robertson crossed to the far submit the place fellow full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold lower the ball to the Portugal ahead, who made no mistake.

Suddenly the Liverpool followers in a single nook of the packed floor had been in full voice.

Midway by means of the primary half, City goalkeeper Ederson nearly paid for an astonishing lapse in focus, permitting a tame again go to dribble inside centimetres of crossing the road, with Jota sliding in.

City had been shading possession and had the higher of the openings however Liverpool posed a continuing risk down the fitting by means of Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah.

De Bruyne went near restoring City’s lead when he shot simply large after a pointy flip and minutes later Joao Cancelo’s highly effective shot was blocked.

But the house facet had been again in entrance lower than 10 minutes earlier than half time when Cancelo picked out the deep run of Jesus, who lifted the ball over Alisson from the sting of the six-yard field.

MANE STRIKES

Incredibly, Liverpool had been again within the contest inside seconds of the restart, earlier than many followers had even re-taken their seats.

Salah picked out fellow ahead Mane, who raced onto the ball by means of the center and beat Ederson to have a good time his thirtieth birthday in type.

City, who had the posh of a 14-point lead over Liverpool in January, had been rattled and Jota pressured Ederson to make a superb save quickly afterwards.

The residence facet thought that they had re-taken the lead within the 63rd minute however Sterling’s objective was dominated out for offside by VAR.

The two managers swapped attacking substitutions — Jurgen Klopp introduced on winger Luis Diaz for Jota with 20 minutes to go and Pep Guardiola threw on Riyad Mahrez for Sterling.

Jack Grealish additionally entered the fray for City whereas Roberto Firmino was introduced on for Liverpool.

Mahrez had an excellent likelihood to win the match within the final seconds of stoppage time however lifted his shot over the bar.