Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool: Sane winner cuts deficit
An enthralling encounter at the Etihad Stadium ended with The Reds losing their unbeaten run and the Cityzens moving four points behind in the title race.
Manchester City vs Liverpool: match report
Well, that was fun! Before the game both managers praised their main title rival, claiming they were the best in the world, or the country. Over the piece, City probably deserved to win but there was little between the two, both of whom should still be seen as serious contenders for not only their domestic competition but also for the Champions League.
City started strong, Liverpool then balanced things up. The pattern of play was as many expected, the home side looking for the goal they needed, the visitors aiming to catch on the break. Things could have been so different and it was a game defined by small margins. A slick move between Liverpool's famed front three ended with the ball less than a centimetre and a half from triggering the goal-line technology. Then Agüero did what he keeps doing to The Reds, a powerful shot, close and tight to Alisson's near post.
Liverpool had to go for it and a few minutes of pressure on City's goal lead to the equaliser. Trent Alexander-Arnold switching play to the back post; Robertson putting it back across goal, and Firmino heading in. There was a feeling right there that Klopp's side would go on and get a second as the flip in confidence kicked in. Instead though, Sane finished off with a pin-point low strike in off the post.
And that was the winner. The level of quality and intensity that is a joy to watch. Two managers that have a healthy respect for each other, and two sides that could be fighting till the trophies are handed out in May. It should be fun to watch.
Manchester City vs Liverpool: live feed
Manchester City vs Liverpool: match preview
Champions vs Challengers. Guardiola vs Klopp. De Bruyne vs Salah. Ederson vs Alisson. Unbeaten run over. Title in their hands...
There are so many narratives that can be chosen for tonight's mouth-watering clash at the Etihad Stadium. Liverpool take the trip up the M62 to the home of the current champions, a team described by The Reds' boss as 'still the best in the world', knowing that a win would make them clear favourites to lift this season's Premier League title. Fans of the Anfield club don't know what it is like to lift that trophy, after all, their last top flight triumph came in 1990, before the new format existed. Conversely, winning back-to-back Premier Leagues has proved just as elusive, but City have the hunger to make that a reality. Remove the thoughts of either of these feats being acheived - there will still be 17 games to play after tonight - and the stage is set for a blistering 90 minutes. Let's try and just enjoy that and leave the post-game hyperbole for later.
Manchester City team news
Pep Guardiola took a season to sort out his assault in England following huge success in Spain and Germany. After that, he took the division by storm, setting records as his City side romped to the title in his second year. Flowing, attacking football, utilising the attributes of all 11 players on the pitch has been on of the defining features of the team. A high, co-ordinated press often forces opposition players into mistakes, or hurried clearances, and once possession is theirs, danger is always threatened.
The biggest decision about the City team will be over Kevin de Bruyne's fitness. The Belgian is said to be close to a place in the starting XI but taking a risk on such an important player will be weighing on Pep's mind. Another player who would be expected to line-up in a mega-clash like this would be English winger Raheem Sterling, who has been in great form. Some commentators have suggested, however, that due to his disappointing performances in past games against his former employers, he could be left on the bench. Until a recent blip in results, whatever side Guardiola put out did the business, and with such depth at his disposal, there can be no excuses.
Liverpool team news
The Reds are setting records of their own this season and Guardiola has described them as the best team in Europe right now. Clearly it is in his interests to say such a thing but those that have studied Jürgen Klopp's side closely this season would argue that, while impressing at times, they don't appear to have found a consistently high level of performance, in the way City did in the first half of last season. The defensive confidence that Alisson and Van Dijk - added to complement the attacking talents of Firmino, Salah and Mané - have had a profound effect, only eight goals being conceded so far this term. But it is only in recent games, along with a few sporadic exceptions, where the striking efficacy of last season has been seen.
The flying full-backs of Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold have been key to Liverpool's impressive start to this campaign, driving forward to support (or at times lead) the attacks, but having the pace and determination to cover back as required. Because this team has not suffered a loss thus far in the league, little has been made of the injuries that Klopp has had to manage. Joe Gomez was a rock alongside the big Dutchman at the back, but had to be replaced. Lovren and Matip have filled in. The midfield has been mixed and matched depending on availability, form and the tactics depending on opposition. Jobs have been done, with everyone bought into the plan. There is not a Reds fan on the planet that wouldn't have accepted getting to this point in the season with only a single loss at the home of the champions. Ahead of this game, though, dreams are starting to form.