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Since the start of the 2018-19 season, combining the four campaigns, City and Liverpool have been separated by just a single point in the Premier LeagueManchester City retained their slender one-point advantage at the top of the Premier League as they fought out a classic draw with closest rivals Liverpool at Etihad Stadium.
The meeting between the country's two outstanding sides lived up to its pre-match billing and in the end there was nothing to separate them, with the destination of the title still hanging in the balance with seven games remaining.
City flew out of the blocks to take an early lead through Kevin de Bruyne's deflected strike but Liverpool were quickly on terms when Diogo Jota turned home Trent Alexander-Arnold's pass.
Pep Guardiola's side dominated a magnificent first 45 minutes but failed to convert a host of chances before Gabriel Jesus stole in behind Alexander-Arnold to restore their lead from Joao Cancelo's cross nine minutes before the break.
Liverpool had been strangely nervous but came out rejuvenated after the re-start, equalising when Sadio Mane celebrated his 30th birthday by scoring from Mohamed Salah's perfect pass in the 47th minute.
Raheem Sterling had a goal ruled out for offside as both sides pressed for a winner in this superb match, with City substitute Riyad Mahrez wasting a chance to win it in the dying seconds as he lifted his finish over the top.
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Man City still in control... just
The two sides drew 2-2 at Anfield in October in their last meeting in the Premier LeagueManchester City and manager Pep Guardiola may regret their failure to turn first-half superiority into a more meaningful advantage but they will not be wholly dissatisfied with the outcome.
There will certainly be no dissatisfaction with City's level of performance, which was outstanding apart from a sloppy first 15 minutes at the start of the second half, during which Liverpool equalised and the reigning Premier League champions were on the back foot.
City's supporters seemed happy enough with the final outcome, clearly living on their nerves in the closing stages knowing Liverpool's threat and their capacity to strike at any time.
De Bruyne was at his imperious best, although Sterling struggled against his former club, his day summed up when arguably his most composed piece of play in a frenetic afternoon saw a low finish past Alisson ruled out for offside, while Liverpool's keeper also denied him in the opening moments of the game.
City's advantage at the top of the table is just that one point but knowing how formidable Liverpool's challenge can be, you suspect Guardiola will settle for it with only seven games left and a fixture list that looks manageable.
He would have preferred the victory that would have opened up a crucial gap but City have survived their toughest fixture of the season against their most dangerous opponents largely unscathed.
More to follow.
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Manchester City
Squad number31Player nameEderson
Squad number2Player nameWalker
Squad number5Player nameStones
Squad number14Player nameLaporte
Squad number27Player nameJoão Cancelo
Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva- Squad number16Player nameRodri
Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne
Squad number9Player nameGabriel Jesus
Squad number7Player nameSterling
Squad number47Player nameFoden
- Squad number10Player nameGrealish
Squad number26Player nameMahrez
Liverpool
- Squad number1Player nameAlisson
Squad number66Player nameAlexander-Arnold
Squad number32Player nameMatip
Squad number4Player namevan Dijk
Squad number26Player nameRobertson
Squad number14Player nameHenderson- Squad number3Player nameFabinho
- Squad number6Player nameThiago Alcántara
Squad number11Player nameMohamed Salah- Squad number20Player nameDiogo Jota
Squad number10Player nameMané
- Squad number8Player nameKeïta
Squad number9Player nameRoberto Firmino- Squad number23Player nameDíaz
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Ederson
- 2Walker
- 5Stones
- 14Laporte
- 27Cancelo
- 20Bernardo SilvaBooked at 40mins
- 16Rodri
- 17De Bruyne
- 9Gabriel JesusSubstituted forGrealishat 83'minutes
- 7SterlingSubstituted forMahrezat 75'minutes
- 47Foden
Substitutes
- 6Aké
- 8Gündogan
- 10Grealish
- 11Zinchenko
- 13Steffen
- 25Fernandinho
- 26Mahrez
- 87McAtee
- 90Lavia
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 32Matip
- 4van DijkBooked at 89mins
- 26RobertsonBooked at 28mins
- 14HendersonSubstituted forKeïtaat 78'minutes
- 3FabinhoBooked at 83mins
- 6Thiago AlcántaraBooked at 61mins
- 11Salah
- 20JotaSubstituted forDíazat 70'minutes
- 10ManéSubstituted forFirminoat 84'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Konaté
- 7Milner
- 8Keïta
- 9Firmino
- 12Gomez
- 17Jones
- 21Tsimikas
- 23Díaz
- 62Kelleher
Referee:Anthony Taylor
Attendance:53,197
Live Text
Match ends, Manchester City 2, Liverpool 2.
Second Half ends, Manchester City 2, Liverpool 2.
Attempt missed. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne with a through ball following a fast break.
Foul by Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City).
Fabinho (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) hits the left post with a left footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool).
Foul by Rodri (Manchester City).
Thiago (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Liverpool. Roberto Firmino replaces Sadio Mané.
Substitution, Manchester City. Jack Grealish replaces Gabriel Jesus.
Fabinho (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Fabinho (Liverpool).
Substitution, Liverpool. Naby Keïta replaces Jordan Henderson.
Attempt missed. Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right following a corner.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Rodri.
Substitution, Manchester City. Riyad Mahrez replaces Raheem Sterling.
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