Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City: summary, score, goals, highlights | Premier League

FT: Liverpool 1-1 City

A compelling contest at Anfield ended up all square with both sides enjoying periods of dominance. 

City were the better side in the opening half with John Stones opening the scoring in the 23rd minute tapping home from a Kevin de Bruyne corner.

The second 45 belonged to Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp's men were level shortly after the restart as Nuñez was scythed down by City keeper Ederson with MacAllister calmly slotting home. 

Both sides created chances and Erling Haaland had an uncharacteristically quiet night for the visitors.

Arsenal remain top and the title race will go all the way as ten games remain in a compelling 2023-24 Premier League run-in.

Premier League title

Arsenal still on top now by virtue of goal difference over the Reds. City a point behind with ten games left for all three sides in this compelling title race.

The whistle sounds and that's it...

Honours even at Anfield and it's Arsenal the main benefactors of the result.

Check complete and it appears that Doku hits the ball first.

A let-off for City.

Has Doku fouled MacAllister ?

Great work from Diaz as Liverpool win a corner and possibly the last action of the game.

Liverpool break and Salah is clipped and claims a spot kick.

Ref waves play away and a VAR check concludes that there was no infringement from Ake on the Liverpool player.

Doku does well again (and has looked bright since coming on) threads the ball into the Liverpool box as Foden attempts a back heel.

The tempo is flailing now as both teams seem content with the point.

Liverpool have the ball in the City net but Salah was caught well offside.

Liverpool win a corner and City bring everyone back.

Poor from Robertson as the move breaks down and City repel the danger.

We'll have 8 minutes of added time.

Last minute of the contest.

Both sides still going for it.

Duku almost steals it for City as he drives the ball off the post with Kelleher well beaten.

Salah now free and that is poor from the sub as he dinks the ball into Ortega's arms.

Tired legs a factor now as the tempo drops.

Less than three minutes left in normal time.

Kyle Walker needs treatment with just five minutes to go at Anfield.

Robertson corner is met by Van Dijk but the Dutchman heads over.

We're well into the final ten minutes of the contest.

Liverpool's thrust seems to have become blunted in the past few minutes.

What a run from Diaz and he beats two men and win a corner.

Quansah has a shot from range and Ortega spills the ball back into play and into the path of a player in sky blue.

This result (1-1) would see Arsenal remain on top of the Premier League table tonight.

Nuñez off and Gakpo is his replacement.

Into the final fifteen minutes of the cliched 'game of two halves' with City dominant in the first 45 and Liverpool well on top in this half.

Foden clips the crossbar and City are almost level.

Kelleher pushes the ball into play and it ricochets off the City man.

Watch him score now !

Haaland has been pretty anonymous tonight.

Far from the finest afternoon for the Norwegian.

Liverpool getting closer as Robertson delivers a sweet ball from the left channel and Nuñez is inches away from establishing contact.

Kevin de Bruyne is not happy with that decision !

De Bruyne and Alvarez off for City

Doku and Kovacic the replacements.

Robertson crosses and the ball almost squirms into the City net as Ortega was unsure of the flight of the ball.

Double strike from Salah but the Egyptian fires wide with a right footed strike.

Diaz is sent through by Salah and the former FC Porto man drives the ball wide as he aims for precision rather than power.

The Colombian is through again and this time Walker robs the striker just as he was about to strike.

Salah and Robertson on

Szoboszlai  and the impressive Bradley off.

An hour gone and the pendulum has swung Liverpool's way.

The Reds have City on the ropes.

Salah is getting ready to make an appearance.

Silva carded.

Liverpool break and Diaz and Nuñez are free but the South American duo fail to find that key ball and the ball is into Ortega's hands.

City have really yet to get going in this second half.

Silva lashes out and gets a telling off from the referee.

Ortega on and Ederson, first switch of the game.

The Brazilian still not recovered from the collision on the Uruguayan striker that led to the Liverpool spot kick.

Ederson set to be replaced by Ortega ?

Ederson is unable to continue as the home fans raise the noise levels.

Liverpool are level at Anfield

Ederson makes a decent stab at saving the spot kick but the power is enough to draw Liverpool level.

The Argentine slots home.

Liverpool are level.

MacAllister to strike the spot kick...

A rash challenge from the Brazilian who is awarded a card.

Spot kick for the Reds as Ederson is clumsy and fouls Nuñez.

Mo Salah starts his warm-up routine and it seems like a question of time before we see the Egyptian in action.

City restart the action.

The teams are back on the pitch and as things stand, it looks like no changes have been made.

Live Premier League table

As things stand, City would top the table tonight and go into the international break as Premier League leaders with the action returning at the end of March.

Oh how Liverpool could do with some magic from Mo Salah !

Far too often, Diaz and Nuñez have looked sluggish when close to the City box with the Sky Blues looking comfortable after the John Stones opener.

A big 45 half coming up at Anfield.

City lead after first 45'

The whistle sounds and City head in ahead at the interval.

MacAllister is fouled by Rodri and the Spaniard is the first booking of the game.

Szoboszlai to take and forces a fine save from Ederson.

Walker is free and drives the ball hard and fast across the face of the Liverpool goal.

Too much power of the pass from the City man.

We'll have 2 minutes of added time

Alvarez shoots from the edge of the Liverpool box but the World Cup winner screws the ball high and wide.

Diaz goes close and Ederson is at full stretch as the Colombian sdrews the ball inches wide.

Into the final five minutes of the half.

No way through for Liverpool despite their dominance in possession.

Haaland one on one with Van Dijk and the Norwegian shoots (tamely) and no pressure for Kelleher who gathers calmly.

Liverpool set to muster a shot on target in over 36 minutes of the game.

City by contrast have registered three.

Liverpool just seem to lack a cutting edge when they approach the final third with Diaz and Nuñez dubabtive on the ball.

Ederson yet to be really tested by the home side with 35 minutes gone.

Szoboszlai with a great chance as he latches on to a delivery from Bradley but nods over.

Best chance for the Reds in the contest so far.

Liverpool with plenty of the ball now but incapable of carving through the City rearguard.  

How can Liverpool respond? The goal came just as the home side seemed to have turned the corner and enjoy the better of the action.

City lead

Stones puts City in control.

Sublime corner from De Bryune as the defender steals in to tap home from short range to put City ahead.

Was there a hint of Ake impeding a Liverpool defender ?

Anyhow the goal stands.

Both Liverpool's younger defenders Bradley and Quansah have acquitted themselves really well in the contest to date and seem to be unphased by the magnituted of the occasion.

Liverpool now ahead in terms of possession

LFC 54-46 (%)

Conditions not helped by the incessant rain as Liverpool have the ball in the City net but Nuñez was well offside.

Kyle Walker is lucky not to be carded as he clips Szoboszlai.

Salah looks on form the bench and the Egyptian is all smiles as Liverpool now start to take the challenge to City. 

Inevitable the striker will play some role in this contest and we may see Salah from min 60 onwards.

Conor Bradley almost creates havoc for City as the Tyrone man drives the ball across the goal and Nuñes collides with the post and seems to be in some trouble.

City are controlling proceedings in midfield with Rodri bossing affairs.

Liverpool yet to trouble the City goal with the visitors having already registered two shots off target.

Whistles and jeers ring out when City are in sustained possession. The Anfield crowd doing its bit in being the '12th man'

Great work from Foden as he drives a teasing ball into the Liverpool box.

Bradley concedes the corner.

City looking very comfortable.

A fast and frantic start to the game with the fans really cranking up the noise levels.

De Bruyne is free and tries to dink the ball into the back corner but overhits as he then tests the Irish stopper.

Possession:

LFC 31-69 City (%) 

Endo robs Foden after a sublime kick out from Ederson.

City very much the team dominating after six minutes

Silva and Alvarez already looking sprightly today for City as Kelleher gets an early touch.

The Irish stopper has been a solid replacement for the injured Alisson and was the man of the match in the recent Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea.

City looking dangerous in the opening exchanges.

All set at Anfield.

Liverpool to defend the end opposite the Kop in the first half.

A reminder of today's team sheets with kick-off just moments away.

LFC-City: weather

It's a grey, damp and cold day in Liverpool with a current temperature of 8C-46F.

A fresh day for players and supporters alike.

The teams take to the field at Anfield.

Liverpool in their iconic all red kit.

City too in their classic sky jersey, white shorts and sky blue socks.

Oliver to officiate LFC-City

Michael Oliver will referee the crucial Liverpool vs Manchester City clash today at Anfield.

This is how the table looks with the title race a three way tussle this season. 

Can Arsenal or Liverpool stem City's bid for a fourth successive Premier League title?

Less than ten minutes to go.

A draw at Anfield today would see Arsenal stay on top on goal difference.

City also eyeing four titles

After the Club World Cup win in December, City can also aspire to bag four titles this season as they look to defend their Premier League title.

Guardiola's men also progressed into the quarterfinals of the Champions League with a comfortable aggregate win over FC Copenhagen and they welcome Newcastle next weekend in the FA Cup 5th round.

Liverpool aiming for 4 titles

After bagging the Carabao Cup with a win over Chelsea in the final, Liverpool are still alive in three competitions ... they lead Sparta Prague (1-5) from the first leg in the Czech Republic and seem to be set for a place in the quarterfinals.

The Reds are in FA Cup fifth round action next weekend as they face Man United at Old Trafford and today's Premier League game will go some way in deciding who lifts the trophy come the end of the season.

Most of the analysis pre-game from the specialists seems to focus on the two youth players that have been drafted in by Liverpool in the shape of Quansah and Bradley. The feeling is that the likes of Haaland and Alvarez can avail of their inexperience. 

LFC-City starting line ups

For those who like their team sheets in traditional format, Mr Henry Winter avails.

PREMIER LEAGUE

What tiebreaker is used if teams finish level on points in the Premier League?

Liverpool have lost only one of their past 20 meetings with Manchester City at Anfield (W13, D6).

However, the Merseysiders' solitary victory in their past eight matches against City was by 1-0 in this fixture last season.

Only two of the past 30 Premier League encounters has been won by the away side.

Today's games are the last round of Premier League games until 31 March.

Next up for both City and Liverpool are FA Cup fifth round ties with the Reds set to face Man United at Old Trafford and City at home to Newcastle.

Both Reds and Sky Blues return to Premier League action on the final day of the month with the aforementioned City-Arsenal game with Liverpool at home to Brighton. 

March 31st !

Is the date when City face Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium and could be a game that could decide the direction of the title race.

Arsenal slipped up in the corresponding game last season and Liverpool fans will be hoping for a draw.

Klopp speaking pre-game on the Salah injury acknowledging that the decision for the striker to start on the bench was mutual and that the Egyptian will make an appearance at some point of the game.  

FT at Villa Park. 

Aston Villa 0-4 Tottenham

Any outside thoughts Villa fans may have harboured about launching an outside tilt at the title have vanished in smoke today with a humbling home defeat at the hands of Spurs.

Villa remain in fourth, but the manner of the defeat will be of some cause for concern for boss Emery.

City XI

Few major injury concerns for City affording Pep Guardiola to select a string side with quality through the team with Alvarez, Foden and Haaland set to lead the line for the visitors.

Liverpool XI confirmed

This is the side that Jurgen Klopp has picked to face City with the German manager having to bring in younger players in the shape of centre back Jarell Quansah and Northern Irish right back Comor Bradley.

Mo Salah starts on the bench for the Reds.

Liverpool plagued with injury

Jurgen Klopp has seen his selection process in recent games very much dictated by the Anfield sick-bay with nine key first teamers out through injury.

Alisson Becker, Joel Matip, Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch, Stefan Bajcetic, Ibrahima Konate and Thiago Alcántara are all sidelined for the German coach with Salah's return the positive news for Klopp.

Salah set to start?

After his 15 minute midweek cameo against Sparta Prague, Liverpool fans will be hoping to see Mo Salah back in action for the Reds in the key clash against City.

The Egyptian striker is returning to full fitness after missing a series of weeks out following his mid January hamstring injury with the Egypt national side at AFCON 24.

Both sides in unstoppable form coming into Sunday's game with both the Reds and Sky Blues recording five wins from their past five outings.

Recent form guide: City

Manchester City 3-1 Copenhagen

Manchester City 3-1 Manchester United

Luton 2-6 Manchester City

Bournemouth 0-1 Manchester City

Manchester City 1-0 Brentford

Recent form guide: LFC

Sparta Prague 1-5 Liverpool

Nott. Forest 0-1 Liverpool

Liverpool 3-0 Southampton

Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool

Liverpool 4-1 Luton

LFC-City kick off times around the world

Wonder what time the game starts in your part of the world?

The Manchester City X account has got you covered with this user friendly global kick-off time guide.

Anfield is ready

The gates will be opening shortly at the iconic stadium in Liverpool and a packed house will be adding their support in helping the Reds get the three points and in doing so deny City from registering with just ten games left in the season after today.

Both sides come into the game after midweek European wins with City easing past FC Copenhagen to secure a berth in the quarterfinals of the Champions League with Liverpool crushing Sparta Prague 1-5 in the Czech capital and as good as staking a place in the next stage of the Europa League.

What time does Liverpool vs Manchester City start?

The action at Anfield gets underway today with a kick off at 11.45 a.m. ET/ 8.45 a.m. PT.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage from Anfield as Liverpool in second place welcome City currently in third. 

The winner of today's Premier League clash heads to the top of the table tonight !

It doesn't get bigger than this.