Liverpool have fought back to draw 1-1 with Manchester City in the last Premier League clash between Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola before the German coach steps down at the end of the season.
Alexis Mac Allister struck a 50th-minute penalty to cancel out John Stones’ first-half strike at Anfield on Sunday, hours after Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham were left celebrating an emphatic 4-0 win at Aston Villa in another key match.
Liverpool might have gone on to snatch a late winner in the late game but had a penalty appeal in stoppage time dismissed by VAR after Jeremy Doku’s high challenge on Mac Allister.
The draw kept second-placed Liverpool one point ahead of defending champions City in third and behind leaders Arsenal on goal difference. Arsenal moved top after a 2-1 win against Brentford on Saturday.
There has been little to separate Klopp and Guardiola in one of English soccer’s most enduring rivalries and that theme continued in this latest thrilling encounter.
A win would have given Liverpool a four-point advantage over City, but it looked like Guardiola might secure only his second win against Klopp at Anfield after Stones converted from Kevin De Bruyne’s corner in the 23rd.
Mac Allister equalised five minutes into the second half after City goalkeeper Ederson brought down Darwin Nunez in the box.
Chances came and went at both ends with Luis Diaz missing a one-on-one and City’s Phil Foden and Doku both hitting the woodwork before the penalty appeal.
This was another example of Guardiola’s struggles at Anfield and the potential of Klopp’s rebuilt team, which dominated for long spells in the second half.
Guardiola’s sole win at Liverpool’s stadium remains a 4-1 rout in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic when fans were locked out. Liverpool have won five of the previous eight games against City at home.
Guardiola’s team looked like addressing that record when going ahead through a corner routine that had clearly been planned on the training ground.
As Nathan Ake jostled Mac Allister out of position, De Bruyne’s low cross to the near post was met by the run of Stones. With Liverpool’s goal exposed, Stones side-footed past Caoimhin Kelleher from a narrow angle.
The home side equalised shortly after halftime when Nunez seized on an underhit pass from Ake and Ederson hacked him down in desperation. Mac Allister fired home from the spot.
City could have restored their lead when Foden was denied with only Kelleher to beat and, at the other end, Diaz fired wide when through one-on-one with Ortega.
Diaz was then denied by a last-ditch challenge from Kyle Walker, while Foden hit the bar when Kelleher’s punched clearance rebounded off the forward.
Substitute Doku hit the post in the 89th and Mohamed Salah couldn’t beat Ortega when one-on-one.
Earlier, Spurs had produced arguably their best display under Postecoglou with their demolition of Villa in a key battle in the race for Champions League qualification.
Spurs celebrated James Maddison and Brennan Johnson goals after the break before home captain John McGinn got sent off for a reckless challenge on Destiny Udogie.
Son Heung-min and substitute Timo Werner then wrapped up the rout in stoppage time, meaning Spurs are now just two points behind fourth-placed Villa with a game in hand.
Source Agencies
