Liverpool still an exceptional team – Pep
Manchester City host Liverpool in Saturday’s early Premier League kick off as they hope to close the gap on current leaders Arsenal.
The gap between Pep Guardiola’s side and the Gunners is eight points though City have a game in hand and Arsenal do not play until this afternoon. The reigning champions can therefore pile some pressure on Mikel Arteta’s team if they manage to defeat Liverpool.
An indifferent season for the Reds has seen them knocked out of every cup competition and leaves them with an uphill battle to finish in the Champions League qualification places. Liverpool are currently sixth in the table and seven points behind fourth-placed Tottenham with two games in hand. Victory for Jurgen Klopp’s men today would be a strong statement of their desire to finish the season well and would increase the pressure on top four rivals Tottenham and Newcastle.
Both managers are also dealing with injuries to key personnel. Guardiola will be worried about in form striker Erling Haaland as well as Phil Foden who left the England squad following surgery to remove his appendix. Klopp meanwhile is without midfielders Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic but Darwin Nunez should be fit to feature.
Follow all the action from Manchester City vs Liverpool:
Man City 2-1 Liverpool
49 mins: Decent response from Liverpool who work the ball into the box for Cody Gakpo. He fizzes a shot at goal and is denied by Ederson before the offside flag goes up.
Michael Jones1 April 2023 13:43
GOAL! Man City 2-1 Liverpool (De Bruyne, 46’)⚽️
46 mins: What a start to the second half!
Julian Alvarez is given the ball by Jack Grealish on the halfway line and whips a wonderful pass over to the right wing where Riyad Mahrez flies in behind.
He collects the ball and carries it into the box. There’s plenty of space for City to run into and Mahrez sends a pass over to Kevin De Bruyne who taps it home to send City ahead.
Michael Jones1 April 2023 13:40
Second half: Man City 1-1 Liverpool
How will this game end? Man City have been the more controlled side but Liverpool are threatening on the break. The next goal could prove to be a crucial one.
Both teams need to win this afternoon but only one can. If it ends in a draw then City could find themselves 10 points behind Arsenal by the end of the day.
Liverpool get the match back underway.
Michael Jones1 April 2023 13:37
HT Man City 1-1 Liverpool
Manchester City have won their last three Premier League games, but have yet to win four in a row in 2022/23. Will they go on to win this one today?
Michael Jones1 April 2023 13:31
HT Man City 1-1 Liverpool
Mo Salah is the first Liverpool player to score in four different games against an opponent in a single campaign since Ian Rush did so in five meetings with Everton in 1986/87.
(Action Images via Reuters)
Michael Jones1 April 2023 13:27
HT Man City 1-1 Liverpool
(Action Images via Reuters)
(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)
Michael Jones1 April 2023 13:23
Half-time: Man City 1-1 Liverpool
45+2 mins: An entertaining and exciting first half comes to an end at the Etihad Stadium with the honours even between Manchester City and Liverpool.
Mo Salah sent the visitors in front before Julian Alvarez showed that he’s a capable replacement for Erling Haaland by netting the equaliser.
All to play for in the second half.
Michael Jones1 April 2023 13:19
Man City 1-1 Liverpool
45 mins: Two minutes of added time to play in the first half.
Michael Jones1 April 2023 13:16
Man City 1-1 Liverpool
44 mins: Ruben Dias floats a diagonal ball over the top and picks out Riyad Mahrez on the right. He weaves up to the edge of the box before sliding a pass over to Ilkay Gundogan.
Gundogan shoots but Fabinho lunges across and makes the block.
Michael Jones1 April 2023 13:16
Man City 1-1 Liverpool
41 mins: Mahrez’s free kick is guided behind by Andy Robertson and City have a corner that Liverpool need to deal with. Jordan Henderson and Manuel Akanji have a coming together before it’s taken get a speaking to by the referee.
This match is heating up nicely.
Mahrez is on set piece duties again. He curls the ball into the middle but Virgil van Dijk wins the header and heads it away.
Michael Jones1 April 2023 13:12
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