The gap at the top of the Premier League table is still just one point, as Manchester City and Liverpool played out an epic 2-2 draw at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon. Goals from Kevin de Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus, either side of one from Diogo Jota, gave the home side a 2-1 half time lead, but Sadio Mane scored what would prove to be the final goal of the day in the first minute after the break.
It was a thriller from start to finish, with Alisson making a wonderful save against Raheem Sterling just five minutes into the game, before a deflected De Bruyne shot gave the league leaders the lead anyway just moments later.
Although Manchester City were pushing for a second, Liverpool equalised against the run of play as Jota finished a smart Trent Alexander-Arnold cutback.
Despite that setback, Pep Guardiola‘s side kept up what they were doing and fashioned further chances for Gabriel Jesus, De Bruyne and Joao Cancelo, before Jesus did retake the lead for his side when he beat the offside line to finish a second cross at a corner.
Liverpool hadn’t been at their best in the first half, but immediately equalised after the restart as Mane was played in and finished emphatically.
While the Reds’ second half performance was better, Manchester City did create more and better chances than their guests and thought they had retaken the lead once more when Sterling slotted past Alisson, only for VAR to show that he had been just offside.
In the final minutes of the game, substitute Riyad Mahrez came close to scoring a late winner twice, hitting the post with a freekick and then lobbing over the crossbar at a last-minute counter attack.
Just one point in the Premier League title race
This result means that the gap at the top of the 2021/22 Premier League table is still just one point. Manchester City move up to 74, while Liverpool are right behind them on 73 points.
Next weekend, they’ll meet again in the FA Cup semi-finals and that could be another thriller.
Marca
