Manchester City 2, Liverpool 2
It was honours even at the Etihad as Manchester City and Liverpool played out a thrilling Premier League draw.
Goals by Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus were cancelled out by Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane but the draw means table toppers City have control of their own title destiny with seven games to go with just one point separating two two title rivals.
De Bruyne opened the scoring with a deflected shot from outside the area before Trent Alexander-Arnold pulled the ball back for Diogo Jota to equalise.
Gabriel Jesus pout City into the lead again with a finish from a half volley after breaking the Liverpool offside trap before Liverpool levelled matters again seconds into the second half through Sadio Mane.
Raheem Sterling had already missed some presentable chances for City earlier in the game but he was offside after a VAR check after City fans were celebrating.
Liverpool could have been down to ten men after Fabinho put in some agricultural challenges while City could have won it late on if Riyad Mahrez hit the outside of the post with a curling free kick and might have won it with a injury time break but he chose poorly with his shot option.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 2, Liverpool 2
Ederson: 7. Almost caught out by Kyle Walker backpass, his first touch almost allowed it to roll across the line before he rescued himself. Saved from Jota when Liverpool were looking to take the lead in the second half.
Kyle Walker: 6. Back after suspension and made full use of the right flank after some comments from Pep Guardiola. Sometimes caught out but never stopped moving.
John Stones: 6. Good range of passing from defence.
Aymeric Laporte: 7. Couple of superb clearances to keep Liverpool out – went to ground to clear the ball from Diogo Jota who was clean through but hesitated. Saw his shot tipped against the post by Alisson after De Bruyne’s free kick – but he was offside.
Joao Cancelo: 7. Full of tricks throughout the game, almost set up a second Kevin De Bruyne goal in the first half and his shot was deflected. His massive switch to the right created the second City goal for Gabriel Jesus.
Rodri: 6. Almost laid on a second goal with a great header into the box as he ventured forward when he could.
Kevin De Bruyne: 8. Deflected shot off Joel Matip opened the scoring after just 5 minutes. Looked well up for it and was always searching out for killer balls on the break.
Bernardo Silva: 7. Early ball to release Kevin De Bruyne for the opening City goal. Was his usual highly combative and mobile self and was booked early.
Phil Foden: 7. Wide on the left and did get involved early on sending the ball into some great positions as he battled with Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Raheem Sterling: 7. Started at centre forward to unsettle Virgil van Dijk and was given a golden chance to score after 5 minutes to drove his shot against Alisson. Couldn’t quite reach a Phil Foden ball across the area and was offside when he thought he had restored the lead for City in the second half.
Gabriel Jesus: 8. Started wide on the right and laid on a superb ball that was begging to be converted. Tried to win a penalty in an early burst and also shot straight at Alisson who he unsettled by staying up the pitch. Scored a deserved second for City but hit Alisson and the side netting with later chances.
Riyad Mahrez (for Raheem Sterling, 75): 6. Great first touch as usual. Hit the post with a late free kick and could have won it with an injury time effort.
Jack Grealish (on for Gabriel Jesus, 83): No time to mark
GOALS – Manchester City 2, Liverpool 2
Man City 1, Liverpool 0: 5. A massive deflection off Joel Matip from Kevin De Bruyne’s shot from outside the box wrong footed Alisson and opened the scoring for City.
Man City 1, Liverpool 1: 12. Diogo Jota equalised after Andy Robertson’s cross deep into the City box was cut back by Trent Alexander-Arnold where the Portuguese was waiting from 12 yards out to drive it home.
Man City 2, Liverpool 1: 37. Gabriel Jesus with the half volley that Alisson could only waft onto his crossbar where it bounced down into the goal after he broke the offside trap to get on the end of a sumptuous Joao Cancelo ball from the left.
Man City 2, Liverpool 2: 46. Mo Salah unselfishly switched the ball to Sadio Mane who slotted home less than a minute after the restart.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 2, Liverpool 2
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Cancelo, Rodri, De Bruyne (C), Bernardo Silva, Foden, Sterling (Mahrez 75), Jesus (Grealish 83)
Man City Subs: Steffen, Ake, Gundogan, Grealish, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, McAtee, Lavia
Booking: Bernardo Silva 39 (trip on Andy Robertson)
Goals: De Bruyne 5; Jesus 37
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson, Thiago Alcantara, Henderson (C) (Keita 78), Fabinho, Salah, Mane (Firmino 84), Jota (Diaz 70)
Liverpool Subs: Kelleher, Konate, Milner, Gomez, Jones, Tsimikas
Bookings: Robertson 26 (foul on Kecin De Bruyne); Thiago Alcantara (foul on Gabriel Jesus 62); Fabinho 83 (foul on Bernardo Silva); Van Dijk (foul on Kevin De Bruyne)
Goals: Jota 12; Mane 46
Referee: Anthony Taylor