After a goalless first half, which Manchester City dominated, Pep Guardiola’s side and Liverpool served up a blockbuster second half of end-to-end action during their Premier League meeting at Anfield on Sunday.
The visitors were very much in control of the first 45′ and City should have gone into the break ahead. Phil Foden missed a great chance after a magical Bernardo Silva run, which saw him beat half the Liverpool team.
Later, Foden turned provider but Kevin De Bruyne headed his cross over at the back post on the stretch. Liverpool, meanwhile, had just one shot in the first half and Jurgen Klopp was already sprinting up the tunnel when the whistle went, clearly having a lot to say in the dressing room.
The Reds started the second half strongly and took the lead just before the hour mark. Sadio Mane finished neatly with a first-time shot after great work by Mohamed Salah on the right to skip past his man and play in his teammate.
The visitors had a response just ten 10 minutes later, however. Gabriel Jesus picked up the ball on the right-hand side and drove inwards, causing panic and finding Foden, who smashed home a low strike from a tight angle.
There were more twists left in the tale of his game and Salah got his name on the scoresheet with a stunning solo effort, turning the City defence inside out before squeezing his shot past Ederson and in off the inside of the far post.
Less than five minutes later, the score was level once more. Foden’s low cross fell to De Bruyne on the edge of the area and he bent a left-footed effort beyond Alisson’s reach.
The action was far from over and in the final 10 minutes both teams had big chances to snatch all three points. Rodri’s last-gasp intervention denied Fabinho a tap-in, then not long later Andy Robertson blocked Gabriel Jesus’ shot after Raheem Sterling set him up inside the box.
A pulsating, high-quality second half of football that neither side deserved to lose. The result means, though, that Chelsea stay top of the Premier League going into the international break, but just four points separate the top eight.
