On Sunday, March 10th, long-time Premier League table leaders Liverpool welcomed second-placed Manchester City to Anfield. With only a point separating these two sides and Arsenal sitting on top after an outstanding performance against Brentford on Saturday, this match promised tension and excitement.
Both teams were evenly matched in terms of their last five head-to-head fixtures, each securing two wins and a draw. Both teams were also plagued with several injuries to key players. However, Liverpool and Manchester City have both built brilliant squads with masterful depth, so the result of this match could only be decided by which team wanted it more.
Liverpool Vs Manchester City
The First Half
The match tempo started normal, with momentum shifting between both teams and the ball traveling up and down the pitch. Around the 10th-minute mark, Liverpool took the momentum and put pressure on Manchester City. This pressure ultimately resulted in Liverpool putting the ball in the back of the net through Luiz Diaz in the 19th minute.
However, the goal did not stand, as Darwin Nunez was offside when he received the through ball and fed Luiz Diaz an easy pass for the tap-in. The shock of the canceled goal must have woken City up because not long after, in the 23rd minute, Manchester City converted a Kevin DeBruyne corner kick through John Stones. The rest of the half saw Liverpool create chance after chance, and you could just get the sense that they were onto something. However, the first half ended with City in the lead, 1-0.
The Second Half
The second half kicked off with more action. In the 47th minute, Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson received a booking for a foul on Darwin Nunez, which resulted in a Liverpool penalty. World Cup winner Alexis Mac-Allister stepped up to take it and placed the penalty within reach of Ederson, who got a hand on it but couldn’t keep it out of the net. The match resumed, with Liverpool back on level terms.
Manchester City suffered another massive blow as Ederson suffered a knock and had to be replaced by Stefan Ortega. The 61st minute saw Mohamed Salah’s return in a Liverpool shirt since February. The match continued, with both teams creating several chances and coming close to taking the lead on several occasions. Ultimately, after over 100 minutes of football, the match would end with Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City.
The Premier League Title Race
A draw between Liverpool and City is the exact result that Arsenal had hoped for. Arsenal beat Brentford on Saturday due to a Kai Havertz header and moved to first with 64 points. Liverpool is in second place with 64 points. Manchester City moves down to third place with 63 points.
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This match was as exciting as it promised to be. It was a tactical masterclass between Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, two of the most talented Premier League managers. There were many chances, big calls, and a fair bit of drama. The Premier League title race is still on and hotter than ever, with ten matches to go.