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Rediff.com  » Sports » PIX: Manchester City rally twice to hold Liverpool in thriller

PIX: Manchester City rally twice to hold Liverpool in thriller

Last updated on: October 04, 2021 10:06 IST
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Sadio Mane sends the ball past Ederson to put Liverpool ahead during the Premier League match against Manchester City, at Anfield in Liverpool, on Sunday.

IMAGE: Sadio Mane sends the ball past Ederson to put Liverpool ahead during the Premier League match against Manchester City, at Anfield in Liverpool, on Sunday. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

Manchester City came from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw with Liverpool in a breathless and pulsating Premier League encounter, at Anfield, on Sunday.

All four goals came in a second half, packed with the high quality, high-tempo, end-to-end football that makes the Premier League so popular globally.

 

Sadio Mane had put Liverpool ahead before Phil Foden equalised only for Mohamed Salah to restore the home side's advantage with a wonderful solo goal.

But Kevin De Bruyne's 81st minute equaliser ensured the teams shared the points and left Liverpool in second place on 15 points, one behind leaders Chelsea.

Phil Foden, left, celebrates with teammates after restoring  parity for Manchester City.

IMAGE: Phil Foden, left, celebrates with teammates after restoring parity for Manchester City. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

Pep Guardiola's City are in third spot on 14 points, level with Manchester United, Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion.

"What a game. That's the reason (over) the last years Man City and Liverpool are always there because we try to play in this way. Unfortunately we couldn't win - but we didn't lose," said the Spaniard.

"That's why the Premier League is the best. It was great, really great."

Mohamed Salah regains the lead for Liverpool.

IMAGE: Mohamed Salah scores to regain the lead for Liverpool. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

City will look back with regret on their failure not to make more of their first half domination when the visitors toyed with Juergen Klopp's side for the 20 minutes before the interval.

James Milner, filling in for Trent Alexander Arnold at right-back, had a torrid half, faced with Phil Foden and Jack Grealish and receiving little help from his team mates.

A remarkable piece of dribbling from Bernardo Silva created a chance for Foden in the 21st minute but his shot was straight at Alisson who parried the ball.

City felt they should have had a penalty when Milner appeared to push Foden in the back but the appeal was waved away by referee Paul Tierney -- the first of a series of decisions which infuriated Guardiola.

Foden was causing Liverpool constant problems and De Bruyne should have found the target with a diving header from his cross to the back post.

Somehow Liverpool survived to the break without conceding and they came out for the second half determined to shift the momentum in the game.

Kevin De Bruyne equalises for Manchester City to make it 2-2.

IMAGE: Kevin De Bruyne drives home from the top of the box to equalise for Manchester City and make it 2-2. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

They did just that when they grabbed the lead in the 59th minute as Salah skipped away from Joao Cancelo and threaded the ball into the path of the sprinting Mane who confidently fired past goalkeeper Ederson.

But City were level 10 minutes later when Gabriel Jesus cut in from the right, taking four Liverpool defenders out of the game, before finding Foden who drilled the ball into the far, bottom corner of the net.

Neither side were in the mood to settle for a point with the home fans roaring their team on and City sensing there were more opportunities to come.

The goal that restored Liverpool's lead was one of rare quality -- Salah twisting and turning into the box to lose Cancelo and Aymeric Laporte before firing home, the Egyptian showing the deft touch, sharp movement and clinical finishing that have made him such a crowd favourite.

But once more City responded, the influential Foden again finding space on the left but, this time, cleverly pulling the ball back to the edge of the box for Kevin De Bruyne whose curling shot took a slight deflection off Joel Matip and beat Alisson.

There was still time for an outstanding piece of defending from City midfielder Rodri, whose superb block kept out a goal-bound effort from Fabinho after Ederson had dropped a cross.

Son shines as Tottenham end streak with win over Villa

Tottenham Hotspur's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and with Aston Villa's Matt Targett vie for the ball

IMAGE: Tottenham Hotspur's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and with Aston Villa's Matt Targett vie for the ball. Photograph: David Klein/Reuters

Harry Kane's Premier League goal drought continued but a virtuoso display by his strike partner Son Heung-min ensured Tottenham Hotspur's losing streak ended with a 2-1 home victory over Aston Villa on Sunday.

South Korean Son did not add to his three league goals this season but produced a tireless display and his two assists ensured Tottenham will head into the international break with their tails up after a sticky patch.

His clever pass set up Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg for Tottenham's opener in the 27th minute and shortly after Villa had drawn level he again left a Villa defending trailing in his wake to deliver a cross that Matt Targett turned into his own net.

Ollie Watkins celebrated his recall to the England squad with Villa's leveller -- his first league goal of the campaign.

Tottenham are still clearly a work in progress under Nuno Espirito Santo, but the performance was a vast improvement on last weekend's 3-1 defeat at local rivals Arsenal -- a third successive loss in which they conceded three goals.

Victory lifted Tottenham into eighth spot with 12 points while Villa, whose three-match unbeaten league run ended, slipped to 10th with 10 points.

"We needed a win but a well-deserved win. We did a good match against tough opponents. Important for us, the boys and the fans. We reacted well after conceding and positive in a lot of ways," Espirito Santo said.

"Many times we conceded and go flat but this time the team did well. We missed chances to kill the game."

There was a nervousness about Tottenham in the opening exchanges but Villa were not able to take advantage and the hosts grew in confidence.

Kane was close to a spectacular opening goal with a quickly-taken free kick from the halfway line which had Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez back-pedalling to keep out.

Son also fired over before he combined with Hojberg down the right and slid a pass across for the Dane to place a side-foot shot into the bottom corner.

Villa began the second half well and Targett had a goalbound effort blocked by Cristian Romero, who impressed after being selected ahead of Davinson Sanchez.

Son volleyed over from a cross by Emerson Royal and out-muscled Ezri Konsa down the left but had his effort from a narrow angle blocked by Martinez.

Villa left back Targett was in the thick of the action and it was his low cross that allowed Watkins to nip in front of Eric Dier to score in the 67th minute.

All eyes were on how a fragile Tottenham would react but thanks to Son they did so in style.

Played in down the left by Sergio Reguilon he left Kortney Hause trailing before threading a low cross to Moura and Targett's desperate intervention sent the ball into the net.

Kane, who scored a hat-trick against NS Mura in the Europa Conference League in midweek, had chances to kill the game off but was unusually hesitant and the England striker's six-game streak without a Premier League goal is his worst run since the 2015-16 campaign.

"I didn't think there was an awful lot in the match," Villa boss Dean Smith said.

"They had the outstanding player on the pitch in Son Heung-min, he set up the winner and caused us problems all game."

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