A thrilling encounter at Anfield saw Manchester City escape with a vital point in the title race, holding on for a 1-1 draw against a dominant Liverpool side. The result leaves Arsenal precariously perched on top of the Premier League on goal difference.
This final meeting between Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola in their managerial tenures at their respective clubs lived up to the hype. John Stones’ first-half opener from a corner was cancelled out by an Alexis Mac Allister penalty early in the second period after a reckless challenge by Ederson on Darwin Nunez.
Klopp’s side, depleted by injuries with Mohamed Salah only fit for a substitute role, were sluggish in the first half. However, they roared back after the break, dominating possession and creating a flurry of chances. Luis Diaz was the chief culprit, squandering several golden opportunities.
The drama continued late on. City substitute Jeremy Doku rattled the post with a low shot, before surviving a controversial VAR check for a penalty after a high foot on Mac Allister. Klopp was left fuming, believing it to be a clear foul, while pundits Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane disagreed on Sky Sports, highlighting the contentious nature of the decision.
Ultimately, a share of the spoils keeps the title race wide open. Arsenal find themselves surprisingly in first, with Liverpool just behind on goal difference, and City hot on their heels in third, a single point adrift.
While some praise City’s resilience, particularly after Ederson’s injury, the focus will undoubtedly be on the controversial VAR call. Did the officials make the right decision? This debate is likely to rumble on for some time.
