Gary Lineker provided the perfect assessment of Sunday’s pulsating 2-2 draw between Manchester City and Liverpool.
The two sides met at the Etihad in what was billed as a potential Premier League title decider and cancelled each other out in an exhilarating draw, that ultimately left the title picture unchanged. City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne gave the hosts an early lead thanks to a deflected effort that cannoned in off the post but their lead lasted less than 10 minutes after Diogo Jota's strike squirmed under Ederson to swiftly give the Reds – who had started slower – parity.
Gabriel Jesus – back in Pep Guardiola’s side’s starting XI in the Premier League for the first time since New Year’s Day - restored City's side lead in the 37th minute, however less than 60 seconds of the second half had been played when Sadio Mane scored Liverpool's second equaliser of the game having latched onto Mohamed Salah's perfectly-weighted through ball. Despite both sides pushing for a winner, the game ended in a draw.
It was a match that ultimately left everyone satisfied but without either able to take a decisive step in the title race. After the game, Reds captain Jordan Henderson and City star De Bruyne shared similar feelings on the match with their analysis of how the match had played out. The shared magnanimity was noticeable with both sides aware they could have won the game but ultimately they were satisfied with the outcome.
TV host and presenter Lineker took to Twitter during the match to share a similar sentiment: “Two of the greatest club sides we’ve ever seen in this country going toe to toe. Premier League football at its gripping best. Fabulous.”
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The result ensures that the two teams remain clear at the top of the Premier League standings, with an 11-point gap between second-placed Liverpool and Chelsea, in third while Spurs are a further six points back. For the fifth season in a row, the title will either be won by Pep Guardiola’s side or Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
City and Liverpool will meet again in next weekend’s FA Cup semi-final before they will go toe-to-toe in the remaining seven rounds of matches in the Premier League. Guardiola’s side still hold a slender advantage thanks to leading the way by a point but this is a title race that looks set to go to the wire after Sunday seeing the spoils shared.
