De Bruyne Misses Penalty As City Deny Liverpool Top Spot
09 November, 2020
Premier League
Result: Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool
Date: 08 November 2020
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Gabriel Jesus' strike cancelled out Mohamed Salah's opener as Manchester City and Liverpool played to a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Jesus made a go back to the town starting line-up after his injury layoff, while Joel Matip returned for the Reds and joined Joe Gomez in the heart of the defence.
Liverpool won a penalty in the 11th minute. Sadio Mane visited ground beneath the challenge of Kyle Walker and the referee pointed right to the spot. Mohammed Salah stepped up and found the bottom left-corner of the net.
With 25 minutes gone, Kevin de Bruyne whipped a trademark ball over the face of goal from the proper flank. It reached Raheem Sterling who, instead of square for Jesus, went for goal from a good angle, but Alisson was quickly out to deny him.
The hosts equalised with a quickfire attack in the 31st minute that saw De Bruyne fizz the ball into the feet of Jesus, who cleverly turned from Trent Alexander-Arnold before poking it past Alisson.
City had their tails up and went searching for a second goal in quick succession. Once more, De Bruyne was at the heart of things for the hosts; letting fly with a robust drilled effort that went just wide of the far post.
In the 41st minute, De Bruyne's cross struck the arm of Joe Gomez and after consultation with the VAR, the referee pointed to the spot again. De Bruyne stepped but sent his penalty wide of the left-hand upright as City missed an enormous possibility to take the lead.
The next half was a fairly more drab affair with chances few in number. However, Jesus did have a wonderful chance to grab his brace when he ghosted in to the area to meet up Joao Cancelo's inviting cross in the 55th minute, but was struggling to find the target along with his header.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp brought on Xherdan Shaqiri for Roberto Firmino, while Alexander-Arnold was forced off with injury and replaced by James Milner, who ran out for his 750th career appearance.
In the end, the game somewhat fizzled out to a stalemate with neither side in a position to lay down a marker in the title race.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za