Man City 1 Liverpool 1: Trent Alexander-Arnold equaliser sees Citizens drop points on title rivals after Haaland opener
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD frustrated Manchester City and their fans with a late equaliser.
Moments after opening goalscorer Erling Haaland had gone close to doubling City’s lead, Alexander-Arnold swept home a Mo Salah pass to level the score.
The England star ran provocatively over to the City supporters and put his finger to his lips.
They responded with fury and boss Pep Guardiola will also be annoyed not to have seen off their title rivals.
Until that moment, it looked like Erling Haaland’s record-breaking strike was going to decide the game.
The Norwegian’s 50th Premier League goal in his 48th appearance made him the quickest to that landmark, beating Andrew Cole’s record by a massive 17 games.
There was less between the two teams and Haaland’s was on course to be the difference.
While fellow No 9 Darwin Nunez failed to turn some decent first-half openings into goals, City’s netfinder general made the most of his only opportunity.
His goal was a case of third-time unlucky for Liverpool as they created their own problems with sloppiness at the back.
After a dull opening, Alisson made things interesting by clearing straight to Phil Foden but the City star’s shot was straight back at the goalkeeper.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
The Reds had done nothing going forward until suddenly Nunez had two chances in a minute. Ederson did well to tip over the header from Salah’s cross, but the Uruguayan should have done better when played in by Dominik Szoboszlai, finding himself crowded out after delaying his shot.
But City were having the better of it.
Curtis Jones put Alisson under pressure with a backpass and Haaland almost capitalised, before Jeremy Doku beat Alexander-Arnold only for the Reds to smuggle the cross behind.
And then Alisson was punished for another poor bit of distribution, although he was badly let down by his defence as well.
Nathan Ake collected Alisson’s sliced kick out of his hands and beat Szoboszlai and Alexander-Arnold way too easily before playing in Haaland.
Joel Matip was caught on his heels and although the Liverpool ‘keeper got a hand on Haaland’s shot, he could not keep it out.
City looked comfortable, except when Manuel Akanji’s pass was picked off by Szoboszlai. But after the Hungarian found Nunez, the striker could find only the side netting.
City almost extended their lead before the break, but Alisson got down brilliantly to keep out Foden’s effort. Ederson did the same to stop Salah’s cross that was dummied by Szoboszlai.
Liverpool came out for the second half with more zip and intent.
Alexander-Arnold got forward more in the opening minutes than he had in the first 45.
But the first chance fell to Julian Alvarez as City found themselves with a man over on the break. Doku picked out the World Cup winner with a cross but he sent his shot well over the bar.
Diogo Jota picked up a knock that led to him being replaced by Luis Diaz, while Ryan Gravenberch replaced Jones.
Haaland spooned a half chance over the bar but the game was now end to end and the visitors sensed there was still plenty in it for them.
Ruben Dias diverted a dangerous Szoboszlai cross behind for the latest in a series of Liverpool corners.
Dias had the ball in the net himself only for referee Chris Kavanagh to signal a soft-looking foul on Alisson by Akanji.
Nunez had another sight of goal, but Ederson saved easily enough at his near post before Haaland sent a header over the Liverpool bar.
The Norwegian went closer when he diverted a Doku cross goalwards from close range, but Alisson blocked.
And seconds later his team was level.
There seemed little danger when Salah retrieved a crossfield pass by Diaz. But he laid it into Alexander-Arnold’s path and one touch and one shot later, it was arrowing into the far corner of Ederson’s net.
City were given hope of a winner when eight minutes of added time were announced.
But a blocked shot by Bernardo Silva was as close as they came until Haaland’s glancing header from an Alvarez corner drifted agonisingly wide.