Thrilling City-Liverpool draw leaves title race on knife edge

MANCHESTER: Manchester City and Liverpool played out a compelling 2-2 draw at the Etihad on Sunday  (Apr 10) that leaves the defending champions just one point clear of their rivals at the top of the Premier League.

Goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus either side of a Diogo Jota strike put City 2-1 up at half-time but Sadio Mane levelled seconds after the restart to change the tone of the match.

But neither side could find a winner, leaving the league title too close to call with just seven matches to go.

Billed as one of the biggest matches in Premier League history - between two of the finest sides English football has seen - the contest at a crackling Etihad lived up to the hype.

After a cagey opening, the game suddenly burst into life.

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker raced off his line to deny Raheem Sterling, who was set up by Jesus as the home side attacked in earnest for the first time.

But the Brazil international was powerless to prevent De Bruyne's wickedly deflected opening goal in the fifth minute after he was fed by a quick free-kick.

The Belgium midfielder skipped past Fabinho and fired in a shot which hit defender Joel Matip and went in off the far post.

A steward had to remove a blue flare from the pitch as home fans celebrated and the momentum was all with City.

But their wild celebrations were cut short just eight minutes later when Jota scored his 15th Premier League goal of the season.

Andy Robertson crossed to the far post where fellow full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold cut the ball to the Portugal forward, who made no mistake.

Suddenly the Liverpool fans in one corner of the packed ground were in full voice.

Midway through the first half, City goalkeeper Ederson almost paid for an astonishing lapse