Advantage, Manchester City – just. As Pep Guardiola’s side squandered their lead twice against an in-form Liverpool side, the Premier League title race remains wide open. Just one point separates both clubs, who have seven matches remaining, and while their encounter at the weekend was being billed as a ‘title decider’, it’s still anyone’s to win.
Kevin de Bruyne got the hosts off to a quick start, but Liverpool were back on level terms minutes later, when Diogo Jota turned in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s pass. Before the break, City went ahead – Gabriel Jesus restoring their lead, and the ascendancy was with City, who had dominated the first 45 minutes.
For those who bet with Karamba in all UK markets, you still can’t look beyond the reigning champions, but their defence was breached again shortly after the interval. Sadio Mané, who was also celebrating his 30th birthday, got his name on the scoresheet, after Mohamed Salah’s pass found the Senegalese international perfectly.
With both sides looking to grab that all-important winner that could have swung the pendulum in the race for the title, neither side were able to capitalise – although Raheem Sterling had a goal ruled out for offside, and Riyad Mahrez squandered a great opportunity late on – his shot deflecting over the bar.
Honours even was a fair result, in what proved to be a pulsating match, featuring two of Europe’s best clubs – however, neither manager was particularly pleased with how the result panned out.
Liverpool boss, Jürgen Klopp described it as a “result we have to live with and can live with”, while his rival, Guardiola conceded that his side had missed an opportunity. He told the media afterwards:
“Now both teams know [there are] seven games left, you have to win or it will all be over,
“I had the feeling that with this result we missed an opportunity, a feeling we leave them alive.
And with four matches remaining, there are sure to be twists and turns in the plot to come. Looking at their remaining fixtures, Liverpool face three of the top-eight clubs in the league. While City’s run-in, is much kinder – with matches against teams in the bottom half of the table, including Newcastle United and Aston Villa. With teams battling for points at either end of the table, anything could happen. You can guarantee that dropped points at this stage would end either side’s title hopes.
Liverpool boast a remarkable run of form, which hasn’t seen them lose in the Premier League this calendar year – their last defeat was a 1-0 loss to Leicester City at the end of December. Manchester City, meanwhile, have sat top of the tree since December 4th, and while their lead at the top has been cut dramatically with nine points dropped since then, the ascendancy is still with them.
With matches coming thick and fast between now and the rest of the season, this year’s Premier League title race could go right to the wire.