Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said his team survived a second-half “tsunami” from Liverpool to secure a 1-1 draw that leaves three sides separated by just one point at the top of the English Premier League.
Arsenal lead the way on goal difference from Liverpool, with defending champions City just one point back in third.
Guardiola has yet to win in front of a crowd at Anfield as City’s only victory stretching back to 2003 was a clash behind closed doors in 2021.
Photo: EPA-EFE
However, the visitors were the happier to escape with a point after Liverpool laid siege to the City goal after Alexis Mac Allister’s penalty canceled out John Stones’ first-half opener.
The final Premier League clash between Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp and Guardiola did not disappoint as the Reds roared back in a breathless second half, despite being depleted by injury.
However, Klopp’s men could have regrets if they do not go on to break City’s run of three consecutive titles, as they missed a plethora of chances to secure a crucial win and were controversially denied a second penalty deep into stoppage time.
“I think that is a game that defined what both clubs have been for many years,” said Guardiola. “Sooner or later in this stadium it is like a tsunami.”
A share of the spoils leaves Arsenal as the winners of the weekend as eight consecutive league victories have taken the Gunners top, but they travel to City in their next league match on March 31.
However, Klopp is confident his side will emerge infused with more belief they can deliver the title in his final season after leaving City hanging on after the break.
“Today I saw the best 53 minutes [second half] we had against Manchester City. It was exceptional how we played,” Klopp said. “They were some of the best moments of my coaching career that we were able to do that against them.”
“The only thing I need at the moment is that we are really in that race. On our performance today, I saw a team that is in the right position — now let’s see what we can do,” he said.
For a much-anticipated clash between two of the world’s best teams, both goals came from simple defensive errors.
Liverpool were caught napping from a Kevin de Bruyne corner on 23 minutes, and Stones’ effort had too much power for Caoimhin Kelleher, but they recovered impressively after also receiving a gift-wrapped equalizer from the visitors at the start of the second half.
Darwin Nunez pounced on Nathan Ake’s short backpass and was cleaned out by Ederson.
Mac Allister was cool despite a long delay for Ederson to get treatment, that eventually forced him to be replaced by Stefan Ortega, and fired his penalty into the top corner.
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