Liverpool remain firmly in the Premier League hunt after coming from behind twice in a classic at Manchester City.
Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane were on target as the Reds fought out a 2-2 draw on Sunday afternoon. The result means Jurgen Klopp’s side remain just a point behind the leaders with seven games remaining.
But there was plenty that went unnoticed or under the radar during the 90 minutes at the Etihad.
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Van Dijk targeted
Liverpool were, by their own standards, knocked out of their stride by City during the opening quarter, leading to the rare sight of Virgil van Dijk becoming flustered.
Indeed, after one wayward pass too many from the Dutchman, Andy Robertson turned to his team-mate and let him know in no uncertain terms what he thought of the ball that had just flown straight out of play.
Van Dijk regrouped and was back at it during the second half. Not least when his mere aura allowed him to halt a breaking Raheem Sterling inside the area and casually pluck the ball from the City man's feet. It almost felt unfair.
From VAR to bizarre
The visitors had good reason to be grateful for the intervention of VAR, with Sterling's second-half strike rightly being chalked off despite having been initially allowed.
And while the officiating was pretty good all round, it wasn't perfect. Notably during the second half when Mohamed Salah's goalbound shot struck Aymeric Laporte and flew narrowly wide of goal.
VAR rightly determined there was no handball by the City defender. But how on Earth did nobody notice it should have been a corner?
Tunnel club tumult
Rather strange before the game was the sight of a gaggle of City supporters stood by the touchline happily snapping photos of their heroes in warm-up action.
These were members of the Tunnel Club - fans who pay big money to sit near the pitch on the halfway line and get reasonably close to the players. Mind you, money doesn't buy manners, as evidenced by the young upstart who boomed "You Scottish b*****d" at Robertson after the Liverpool man was booked for a foul on Kevin De Bruyne.
It must be good inside, though, as most of the Tunnel Club were still absent when Sadio Mane scored at the start of the second half. Let's hope such a preposterous moneygrab stays well away from Anfield. Forever.
Happy Kostas
There are many reasons to love Kostas Tsimikas. And the Greek Scouser was at it again at the Etihad.
Witness the look on his face as he celebrated on the bench after Mane had drawn Liverpool level for a second time in the match.
Meanwhile, at full-time Pep Guardiola caused some raised eyebrows with the aggressiveness of the high five he gave Jurgen Klopp after the final whistle from which the Liverpool boss refused to flinch. The alpha male play didn't quite work this time, Pep.
