Liverpool FC’s final piece of Premier League action before heading into the last international break of the year turned out to be a rather evenly-matched yet below-par 1-1 draw away at the Etihad Stadium against Manchester City.
A spot-kick by Mohammad Salah in the opening minutes of the game was cancelled out by a brilliantly worked out finish by Gabriel Jesus, before Kevin de Bruyne’s failure to convert his spot-kick meant that the Reds left Manchester with a point in the bag, not successful in their attempt to reclaim the top spot in the league table.
TEAM NEWS
A number of changes were expected in the Liverpool FC XI that would lineup at the Etihad, and Klopp, much to the delight of the supporters, gave starts to both Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino, with Liverpool FC choosing to play a 4-2-3-1 formation in the presence of four-star forward players.
Joel Matip returned to the XI for the first time in nearly a month, as Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri featured amongst the substitutes for the Merseysiders.
MATCH PROCEEDINGS
Firmino found himself in a wonderful position to open the scoring for Liverpool FC after a defence-splitting pass from Trent Alexander Arnold found the under-fire Brazilian international clear on goal, with only Ederson to beat.
However, the Manchester City No.1 was defiant in his manner to prevent his compatriot from getting on the scoresheet, getting a hand on the ball to prevent Firmino from rounding him up and finding the back of the net.
Minutes later, Mane lurked into the 18-yard box after a crisp pass from Andy Robertson, and as the Senegalese turned around the hosts’ backline, an outstretched leg of Kyle Walker’s caught the Liverpool FC winger, who did not hesitate at the slightest to tumble down, leading to Craig Pawson to point to the spot.
Mohammad Salah, as he so usually does in the Reds shirt, ensured that his side took an important lead on their journey away from home turf, by slotting in a thundering strike to his left from the resulting spot-kick, well outside the reach of Ederson.
Alisson Becker was called into action moments later as a trademark swinging pass from De Bruyne found ex-Red Raheem Sterling in a good position to level the game. But the Liverpool FC shot-stopper made an important save from the Manchester City talisman’s effort before Joel Matip’s clearance made it all clear for the visitors.
Pep Guardiola’s men, however, did manage to find the back of the net, and that too in a fantastic manner, with De Bruyne again finding himself in the thick of things in his attacking half, feeding Gabriel Jesus with a delightful pass, and the Brazilian striker was equally apt in his finish, rounding up Alexander Arnold before calmly putting the ball past Alisson.
Adding to the worries of the Liverpool FC fanbase eagerly watching the game from the comfort on their homes, the hosts were awarded a spot-kick themselves when Joe Gomez was adjudged to have handled the ball after seemingly attempting to block a cross from De Bruyne.
Following a lengthy VAR check, Craig Pawson did not hesitate in awarding Manchester City the penalty kick, and De Bruyne stepped up to make sure that his side went into the second half with a lead to their name.
But, the Belgian playmaker’s spot-kick went horribly wrong as he put the ball wide of the goal, and Jurgen Klopp’s men were granted a lifeline with 45 minutes of the game already up.
The second half at the Etihad Stadium was one of the most monotonous displays of football seen in recent times, that too from two attacking giants in world football, with neither side able to break through each other’s defensive line.
Jesus had the best chance of the half with his header from a Joao Cancelo delivery sailing wide off the post, and it looked as if both teams were happy to take a point each from the weekend showdown.
Shaqiri was brought on the pitch in place of Firmino, whose another misfiring attacking display could surely mean a spell on the bench following the resumption of club football after the forthcoming international break.
A potential calf injury to Trent Alexander Arnold forced Klopp to introduce James Milner off the bench against his former side, as the Reds maintained control over the game’s proceedings, despite being way off their usual attacking standards.
We leave Manchester with a point.#MCILIV
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 8, 2020
The final whistle brought down the curtains on a largely dull meeting between the two Premier League heavyweights, rather unexpected prior to the start of the match, and Jurgen Klopp’s side have to do with a third-place spot in the Premier League standings for now.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
All the key moments from an end-to-end encounter 💪#MCILIV match highlights… pic.twitter.com/46l1bOvTuY
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 8, 2020
