NO ROOM AT THE TOP
Pep says he doesn’t ‘do boring’ but there’s so little to choose between the top teams right now this match of the season did a very good impression of a bore draw
PEP GUARDIOLA said before the game that he does not do boring, does not even know how.
And it is hard to believe that the two most gung-ho teams in the Premier League would ever play for a draw.
But after Riyad Mahrez blazed Manchester City’s late penalty over the crossbar, there was simply nothing between the reigning champions and their most likely challengers.
They cancelled each other out as what was billed as a thrilling title shoot-out turned into a bore draw.
Incredibly, the two teams managed just three shots between them in the first half, the joint-lowest in the Premier League this season along with Newcastle v Arsenal and Huddersfield v Cardiff.
However, if Liverpool-City did not set the pulse racing then it was a reflection of just how well these heavyweights are matched this season.
They shared 18 goals in four meetings in the Premier League and Champions League last season, Liverpool having the upper hand with three wins. But it was City who ran away with the title. They finished 25 points ahead of Liverpool but you feel this season’s race will be a hell of a lot closer.
Make no mistake, City will probably be happier with the point even if they will rue Mahrez’s penalty miss.
But Liverpool should not be disheartened as they have clearly got the measure of City and, if they can remain consistent, then they will push them all the way.
Maybe we can sacrifice one game in a season if the title race is going to be more exciting than last season’s one-horse race.
Etihad chief Guardiola knows now that his side will not have it their own way. They are there to be shot at, which is why it is so much harder to defend a title than win it.
The problem at Anfield yesterday was that the best players on the pitch were largely defenders. City’s centre-halves John Stones and Aymeric Laporte were magnificent and Liverpool’s Joe Gomez was superb at nullifying the threat of Raheem Sterling.
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk did not put a foot wrong until his rash challenge upended Leroy Sane to concede the 86th-minute penalty. But that was the only heart-inmouth moment for Liverpool’s defence, which is telling because City are normally so dangerous, even away from home.
It is four games without a win across all competitions for Jurgen Klopp’s men but on this evidence there is no cause for alarm, especially given an intense run of fixtures.
City have not had it easy either and maybe they did not have enough left in the tank to see off Liverpool.
Right from the start the game was more niggly and aggressive than free-flowing as Benjamin Mendy and Fernandinho put the boot in while James Milner hobbled off with a hamstring injury to disrupt Liverpool’s midfield.
Naby Keita came on but the Reds lost rhythm while Dejan Lovren – back in at centre-half to allow Gomez to play rightback – was lucky to survive penalty appeals after appearing to push Sergio Aguero in the box.
City started the second half better and, though Liverpool came back, their front three were once again below par. Mo Salah was easily the pick of the bunch but his shooting was wayward.
Salah managed Liverpool’s first effort on target after 62 minutes but it was straight at City keeper Ederson while, at the other end, home keeper Alisson saved brilliantly from Mahrez.
Guardiola replaced Aguero with Gabriel Jesus and could not have imagined that the move would be so important. Van Dijk’s challenge brought down Sane and, with Aguero off the pitch, Guardiola sent instructions for Mahrez to take it.
Mahrez had a good game and maybe that was why Guardiola chose him over Jesus, who wanted the ball. But Mahrez blazed miles over for, incredibly, his fifth miss from his last eight penalties for City and Leicester.
It was a moment to regret for City and rare for Guardiola to make a mistake but a point each seemed just about fair.