Liverpool and Man City went toe-to-toe at a buzzing Anfield on Sunday afternoon but neither side could claim all three points, the match ending in a thrilling 2-2 draw. Liverpool took the lead midway through the second half, courtesy of Sadio Mane, after an assured and brilliantly brave City display in the first half. Man City were quick to equalize courtesy of Phil Foden before a moment of utter individual brilliance from Mohammed Salah put Liverpool back in front. Kevin De Bruyne, who was quiet for the majority of the match, then equalized a second time for Man City with the helping hand of a deflection which took the ball right past a helpless Alisson. The final few minutes weren’t without their drama as Ederson misjudged the flight of the ball from Salah, which landed right on the foot of Fabinho, only for Rodri to heroically block his attempt, to rescue City a point.     

Marvellous Mo Salah  

I am running out of superlatives to describe this man. Salah has easily been the most consistent player in the Premier League since joining the Reds in the summer of 2017 and has started this season in scintillating fashion. He played a massive part in the game, first assisting and then scoring a sensational individual goal. The hunger and desire Salah shows impacts every game he plays in and is a testament to his elite mentality which makes him the player he is today. Liverpool are currently in a contract predicament with the Egyptian and it really does beg the question why are they so hesitant in offering him a renewal? As of right now, Salah is the best player in the Premier League and there is arguably no better attacker in world football. He’s Liverpool’s talisman and I’m certain no Liverpool supporter would want to swap him for anyone else. Salah’s influence on Jürgen Klopp’s side is immense and his goal contributions serve to emphasise that. He has clearly benefited greatly from a proper break and pre-season and now looks hungrier and more driven than he ever has. It’s crucial that Liverpool tie him down sooner rather than later.

A game of two halves

Liverpool were extremely fortunate not to go into the interval a goal or two behind. They looked abnormally sluggish in the first half and their midfield in particular looked lethargic and off the pace. Man City kept and retained the ball expertly, whilst creating two great chances of their own through the talented Phil Foden (clearly the Citizens stand out player on the day). If it wasn’t for the brilliance of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, the Reds would have really had a mountain to climb. At the beginning of the second half, Liverpool looked revitalised; whatever Klopp had said at half-time had certainly worked. They pressed with more intent and were a lot more courageous in possession. Mane then reaped the reward for all of Liverpool’s efforts with a perfectly placed finish, before a resilient City cancelled them out. The pendulum continued to swing backwards and forwards as both teams struck blows on each other until the final whistle. A draw at the end seemed a fair result and was probably a good point for both teams, as no title challenger wants to lose to another this early on in the season. The League is still too early to call but what is already very clear is that both Liverpool and Manchester City still look like the two teams to beat this season.

Classic Barclays

This match definitely lived up to the hype. Under the floodlights of Anfield, with the game being shown in a staggering 187 countries, it’s safe to say that as footballing spectacle it didn’t disappoint. We really have been treated to some excellent games of football so far this season and it is shaping up to be a campaign to remember. The game at Anfield was another prime example of the high quality football on display and it is also a testament to the managerial expertise of Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, who continue to produce mouth-watering games like this season after season. Both sides played with such intensity and endeavour in the second half, it was like watching two heavyweights throwing punch after punch, looking to knock the other out. We really have been treated to some unbelievable games in recent years and this game will definitely live long in the memory of all football fans. Key little details matter in matches of this magnitude and that’s what makes these sides a cut above the rest. The movement from Kyle Walker for example, who made late darting runs into Liverpool’s penalty area for both of City’s goals, highlighted his intelligence and his ability to assess situations. It left Liverpool defender Andy Robertson with a huge decision to make. If Kyle Walker doesn’t make the run, then Robertson can easily clear the ball and take the pressure off his teamates. Instead, Walker attempts to meet the ball, which ends up neatly at the feet of De Bruyne who equalises for City. It is these fine but crucial margins which really do make these two sides that much better than every other team in the Premier League.