ALEXANDER-ARNOLD RAISES SCOUSE SPIRIT LEVELS
TRENT ALEXANDER -ARNOLD is the Scouser in the team according to the anthem sung by Liverpool’s travelling supporters.
He certainly had to show the kind of spirit that comes in handy when you are kicking a ball about on the streets of West Derby with the dream of making the grade at Anfield.
Alexander-arnold was given such a torrid time by Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku that he must have felt he was locked inside a washing machine on its spin cycle.
But when it came to the crunch, he had enough in his locker to drive home the 80th-minute equaliser that suggested Liverpool are definitely the real deal when it comes down to a title challenge.
Jurgen Klopp’s team deserved their point – even though they benefited from a dubious second-half VAR decision that backed referee Chris Kavanagh’s decision to rule out Ruben Dias’ close-range strike for a very soft foul by Manuel Akanji on flapping Reds keeper Alisson.
City were digging in to defend the lead given to them by Erling Haaland following another Alisson clanger in the first period.
But Liverpool were struggling to turn any pressure into chances until Alexander-arnold forgot about the tricky Doku for once, and drifted unnoticed into the home side’s penalty area. When Mo Salah eased the ball into his path, the defender took a controlling touch before whacking a shot past Ederson’s right hand.
City were chasing a 24th successive home win in the league to equal a record set by Sunderland when Queen Victoria was on the throne.
Haaland did set one new standard by firing home his 50th Premier League goal after 26 minutes.
The Norwegian beat the previous record for the fastest 50 Premier League goals by a country mile.
Alisson’s passing had been poor – but when he sliced a dr spring Salah free, he
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Liverpool increased their tempo after the break, but Klopp felt he needed to roll the dice by sending on Luis Diaz, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo as the champions held firm.
Julian Alvarez fired a great chance just over after Doku had again opened up the Merseysiders on the break.
Then, in the 68th minute, Alisson came to collect Alvarez’s corner only to allow the ball to slip from his grasp like a bar of soap as Akanji challenged – and Dias netted at the far post.
Contact was minimal but Manchester-born referee Kavanagh ruled it was enough – and VAR Stuart Atwell agreed.
Alisson did make amends by making a smart save to deny Haaland a second from yet another Doku cross – and 60 seconds later Liverpool levelled.
Haaland glanced a header just wide deep into injury-time as City rallied.
And at the final whistle Guardiola and substituted striker Darwin Nunez had to be separated as tempers flared – but Klopp and the Catalan smiled and shook hands.