2023/24
Matchweek 28
All times shown are your local time
Sun 10 Mar 2024
Kick Off:
Anfield, Liverpool
Att: 59,947
Ref: Michael Oliver

WHO'S GOING TO BE YOUR

MAN OF THE MATCH?

Report

Liverpool and Manchester City drew 1-1 at Anfield to leave Arsenal in charge of the Premier League title race. 

John Stones had put Man City on course to go top for the first time since November but Alexis Mac Allister's second-half penalty earned Liverpool a point that means just ONE point separates the top three teams with 10 matches remaining for each side.

It was fitting that there was nothing to split Liverpool and Man City in what was Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola's "last dance" before Klopp departs at the end of the season.

How the match unfolded

Liverpool were dealt a blow before the match even kicked off, with Ibrahima Konate ruled out through injury and Mohamed Salah only fit enough to start on the bench alongside Andrew Robertson. With Alisson and Trent Alexander-Arnold also out, it meant Liverpool's back five was Caoimhin Kelleher, Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah and Virgil van Dijk. 

Dominik Szoboszlai did provide a welcome boost, though, making his first Premier League start since January. 

Man City made two changes from the team that won last week's Manchester derby, with Manuel Akanji and Julian Alvarez replacing Ruben Dias and Jeremy Doku. 

Man City started on top and made their dominance count midway through the first half, when Stones scored from a clever De Bruyne corner. 

De Bruyne whipped the ball to the near post, where Stones was left unmarked after Nathan Ake had blocked Alexis Mac Allister in a smart screen move.

It was De Bruyne's 13th goal involvement in 12 Man City appearances in 2024, the most of any Premier League player across all competitions so far this year.

Szoboszlai then headed Harvey Elliott's cross wide, and there was a mouthwatering moment just before the break as two of the Premier League's stars in their position went head-to-head. Haaland was set through in a 1v1 with Van Dijk, who held up the Man City striker and forced a weak shot that was straight at Kelleher. 

Coming into the match, Liverpool had won 22 points from losing positions this season, the most of any team, and they showed their grit once again to equalise five minutes after the restart, although they needed a helping hand to do so. 

Nathan Ake played an underhit backpass that Nunez reached before Ederson, who gave away a penalty, hacking down the Liverpool striker in his attempt to reach the ball first. Mac Allister converted the spot-kick. 

To make matters worse, Ederson was injured in the act of conceding the penalty and shortly after was replaced by Stefan Ortega.

Roared on by a rampant Anfield crowd, Klopp brought on Salah, who almost immediately made his mark. The Egyptian played an incredible through-ball to Luis Diaz, who shot wide in a 1v1 with Ortega. 

Less than two minutes later, Luis Diaz missed another big chance, failing to get his shot off in another 1v1 after being set up by Nunez.

There were two more big chances at either end, with Kelleher spreading himself in an Alisson-like action to thwart Foden, while Ortega flung himself at Nunez's close-range effort. 

But it was City who came the closest to winning it. In the 89th minute, Doku's shot from the left side of the box beat Kelleher, smashed against a post and bounced across goal and out.

It was the last meaningful chance of an absorbing contest featuring 29 shots, 19 of which came from Liverpool, who also edged possession.

It ends Man City's run of nine away wins in a row in all competitions, and means Liverpool have lost only one of their last 21 home Premier League matches against City.

But the big winners of the match were Arsenal, who leapfrog both teams after their late win over Brentford on Saturday and are in pole position to go on and win a first Premier League title since 2003/04.

Club reports

Liverpool report | Man City report

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Club Reports

Match officials

Referee: Michael Oliver

Fourth Official: David Coote

VAR: Stuart Attwell

Assistant VAR: Nicholas Hopton

Match related content will appear here

      Season So Far

      Liverpool
       
      Man City

      Top Player Stats

        Match Stats

        Liverpool
         
        Man City

        Head-to-Head

        Liverpool
        Total Wins
        22
        Home
        18
        Away
        4
        Man City
        Total Wins
        12
        Home
        10
        Away
        2

        Played

        55

        Draws 21

        Recent Meetings