Liverpool and Manchester City shared a point apiece after a thrilling contest at Anfield on Sunday, with John Stones sending the visitors ahead from close range after a poorly defended corner in the 23rd minute, and Alexis Mac Allister setting the score back level from the spot after City goalkeeper Ederson Moraes took out Darwin Nunez inside the box.
The game
Trying to act like proper defending champions, City came to Anfield with a desire to win, and they attacked the hosts from the first whistle. However, the resistance that met them appeared rather unexpected, as Liverpool frequently showed against Pep Guardiola’s side down the years.
City looked slightly the better team in the opening 10 minutes, with Phil Foden thwarted by Virgil van Dijk and Julian Alvarez’s shot stopped by Caoimhin Kelleher, but the lines gradually moved back towards Ederson from that point on. Liverpool came closer later in the first half as Nunez just missed a sharp ball across the six yards from Conor Bradley.
And then came that moment in the 23rd minute, when Kevin De Bruyne whipped a low corner towards the near post, Stones escaped Nunez and pounced from a yard or two away from the goal.
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The deadlock was broken, but with Liverpool known for a high number of successful comebacks this season, the contest was obviously far from over.
Though the first 45 minutes ended with City in the lead, the Reds had already restored balance on the pitch, matching the defending champions bravely with a makeshift lineup, and in the 31st minute, they came very close to equalizing through Dominik Szoboszlai who hit a free header just off target. Luis Diaz also missed by a foot or two with a low drive from the edge of the box 10 minutes later. On the other hand, City threatened seriously at the start of the stoppage time as Kyle Walker whipped the ball across the box to the far post, where De Bruyne arrived too late.
Liverpool’s performance rose still higher after the break, and from that point on, they were clearly the better team, though their subsequent efforts were rewarded in advanc
