Liverpool and Manchester City stood toe-to-toe at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, exchanging haymakers and glorious bits of skill in an end-to-end classic that ended 2-2 after an exchange of four second-half goals.
City carved the best opportunities of the first half with Phil Foden tormenting stand-in right back James Milner and Bernardo Silva at his freakish best. This dribble from Silva in the 20th minute deserved a finish from Foden.
Betnardo Silva almost made the assist of the season. pic.twitter.com/lJIzFapirN
— No Context Bernardo (@0ContextSilva) October 3, 2021
The Reds took the ascendency in the second 45 with Mohamed Salah at the heart of everything.
In the 59th minute, Fabinho found Salah out wide and the Egyptian lifted the ball over João Cancelo’s weak challenge before sprinting at the heart of City’s defense. The obvious ball was to a streaking Diogo Jota, but Salah, at full-sprint, slipped a perfectly weighted ball into the path of Sadio Mané. Rock and roll football.
¡LA COMBINACIÓN DE LOS ATACANTES!
Sadio Mané @MoSalahEl senegalés llegó a cuatro goles en la temporada de @premierleague y está a un gol de gritar
Disfruta del encuentro en nuestra APP Telemundo Deportes ➡️ https://t.co/xvNdy2pSPh#LigaPremierTD pic.twitter.com/QyrCOTVO8s
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) October 3, 2021
It took City 10 minutes to muster a response. Gabriel Jesus drifted across the top of the area before playing in Foden, and despite a first touch that narrowed the angle to goal, the 21-year-old rifled his finish inside the far post.
¡LOS ‘CITYZENS’ NO SE ESTÁN DEJANDO!
Disfruta del encuentro en nuestra APP Telemundo Deportes ➡️ https://t.co/xvNdy2pSPh#LigaPremierTD pic.twitter.com/MJKIJ8mZ2w
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) October 3, 2021
Liverpool restored its advantage in the 76th minute with a worldie from Salah. The Egyptian turned between two City markers on the edge of the area and then proceeded to dice Silva to the floor with a ball roll. Next up was Aymeric Laporte, who got turned inside out as Salah drove to the goal-line.
Salah then hammered a finish off the far post and in.
WORLD CLASS.
Mo Salah with some moves and a SCREAMER of a goal! #LIVMCI pic.twitter.com/Yx3v3ki4El— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) October 3, 2021
The lead only lasted five minutes. In the 81st, Kevin De Bruyne made it 2-2 with a goal that's not as pretty but counts the same.
Goal given.
What a game. #LIVMCI pic.twitter.com/OzBf5H4qZe— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) October 3, 2021
It looked like Fabinho had Liverpool's winner in the 87th minute, but Rodri pulled off a sensational block to deny the Brazilian at the doorstep.
That was fucking insane from Rodri. Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/BHjm2WqBdx
— FutbolBible (@FutbolBible) October 3, 2021
Liverpool remains the Premier League’s only remaining unbeaten side and sits in second place, one point behind Chelsea. Manchester City moves up to third, two points back of the Blues.