Manchester City travelled to Anfield for a major battle against Liverpool, but the points were shared.
Jamie Carragher has piled the pressure on Liverpool after his former side failed to beat Manchester City in a crucial title battle at Anfield. Liverpool went into the weekend top of the table, but now trail leaders Arsenal, who have a superior goal difference.
In the build-up to the fixture, Carragher claimed that Liverpool needed to beat City at Anfield in order to firm up their title chances. The ex-centre half, while speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate said: “I feel as if Liverpool have to beat City at the weekend for me to sit there and go ‘I think Liverpool are going to win the league’. I think I will believe that if Liverpool go four points clear with 10 games to go.”
Ultimately though, the Merseyside outfit failed to come out on top, with the points shared during a pulsating battle at Anfield. Liverpool had chances to win the game, but they will now resume Premier League action after the international break second in the league.
After a cagey opening first 20 minutes, it was City who broke the deadlock in stylish fashion. At the same stadium a ‘quickly taken corner’ helped Liverpool on their way to Champions League glory in 2019, Kevin De Bruyne’s sharp thinking from a set-piece picked out John Stones inside the penalty area, with the centre-back sweeping home.
On balance, it was a deserved lead at the break for City, who had dealt well with Liverpool’s threat. The Reds managed just one shot on target during the first period, with Jurgen Klopp’s men uncharacteristically sheepish. That all changed early in the second period though, with a moment of madness gifting Liverpool an equaliser.
Darwin Nunez had appeared to be running the ball out of play when he intercepted Nathan Ake’s wayward backpass, but the Uruguayan international was able to draw a foul from City goalkeeper Ederrson. The shot-stopper rushed out to close Nunez down, but his swiped tackle missed the striker completely, with the Liverpool man earning his side a spot-kick.
