Liverpool Hold Man City In Top Table Battle

It looked like Man City were heading four points clear at the top of the table thanks to Haaland’s 50th Premier League goal, but Alexander-Arnold’s superb strike means the Reds stay hot on City’s heels, one point behind in second place, and stops City’s 23-match winning home run in all competitions.

It also means that third-placed Arsenal can leapfrog both teams into first place with a win at Brentford in Saturday’s late match.

Man City made one change to the team that drew 4-4 at Chelsea prior to the international break.

Ederson was passed fit after pulling out of the Brazil squad, but Jack Grealish was absent due to illness.

For Liverpool, Curtis Jones started in midfield, with Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota accompanying Mohamed Salah in attack.

The first chance of the match came in the 11th minute when Alisson’s poor pass went straight to Phil Foden, whose strike at goal was weak and did not trouble the Liverpool goalkeeper.

Liverpool had the best chance of the opening exchanges, with Nunez’s header from Salah’s cross being tipped away by Ederson.

But that was Liverpool’s only shot on target of the first half as Man City asserted their dominance, which they made count in the 27th minute after another Alisson error.

Alisson’s sloppy kick was controlled by Nathan Ake, who skipped between two challenges and played in Haaland to score his historic 50th goal, reaching the milestone in his 48th appearance, and smashing Andrew Cole’s record.

It was the Norwegian’s first Premier League goal against Liverpool, meaning he has now scored against 20 of the 21 opponents he’s faced in the competition, failing only against Brentford, whom City next face in February.

Man City came close to doubling their lead in the last minute of the first half in a moment involving a moment of brilliance by both goalkeepers.

Ederson’s long pass led to an opportunity for Foden to smash a shot at goal, which Alisson dived to his left to push wide of a post.

In the second half, City continued to look the more likely team to score, with Julian Alvarez lifting a shot over the bar and Ruben Dias having a goal ruled out after Manuel Akanji had fouled Alisson.

Liverpool also lost Diogo Jota to an apparent injury, with the Portuguese hobbling off before the hour mark.

But Jurgen Klopp’s side refused to give up, and shortly after Nunez saw a shot saved at the near post, they equalised, and Alisson played a big part, making amends for his mistake that led to City’s goal.

Alisson saved a close-range shot by Haaland and, less than a minute later, Salah passed to Alexander-Arnold, who produced a fantastic low finish from the edge of the box for his first goal of the Premier League season.

Both teams wanted to find a winner, and Klopp tried to benefit from fresh legs as he made five substitutions.

Pep Guardiola in comparison made none, but despite that, it was City who so nearly nicked a win at the death.

In the last minute of stoppage time, Alvarez’s corner was headed across goal and inches wide by Haaland, as the latest instalment of Man City v Liverpool ended all square.