Manchester City and Liverpool played one of the most thrilling 1-1 draws in recent memory at the Etihad on Sunday in a game that is likely to be remembered for tepid defending and inexplicably bad finishing.
From the onset, both teams took the game to the opposition, pouring men forward in attack. For much of the contest, attacks flowed from end-to-end at a breakneck pace, and either side could have got three points had they showed a little more composure in front of goal. Each team had a whopping 13 attempts on goal.
In the first half, City set the tone through some slick passing and David Silva and Leroy Sane had good opportunities to break the deadlock. With both teams playing a high-line in defence, the pace of Sane and Sadio Mane for Liverpool played a significant role in unlocking defences.
Fernandinho got the best chance of the half, failing to slot the ball home from a rebound from barely six yards out.
The home side, though, were lucky to have Yaya Toure not sent off for a kick on Emre Can’s chest with both players lying on the ground. The Ivorian only received a yellow.
Liverpool threatened more in the early stages of the second half and earned a penalty when Gael Clichy brought down Roberto Firmino, which James Milner calmly slotted home. Sergio Aguero, though, equalised for his side after getting to the end of an exquisite cross from the right flank from Kevin de Bruyne.
Fernandinho’s miss in the first half was eclipsed by Adam Lallana’s glaring miss in front of goal, failing to nod the ball home, unmarked, with only keeper Willy Caballero in front of him. The Englishman, incredibly, failed to get a touch on the ball.
Aguero could have slammed the winner in stoppage time but the Argentinian ace had a quiet game by his standards, and smashed his volley from another De Bruyne cross into the stands.
City are at third place with 57 points while Liverpool lie at fourth with 56, having played a game more than the Citizens. The Reds are the only team so far in the division who have not lost a game in the season to their fellow competitors in the Premier League’s top six.
Brief scores:
- Manchester City 1 (Sergio Aguero) draw with Liverpool 1 (James Milner)
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