Trent Alexander-Arnold’s late goal gave Liverpool a 1-1 draw with leaders Manchester City on Saturday at the Etihad Stadium, further enlivening the Premier League’s 2023-24 title fight.
Erling Haaland had put Man City in front with a first-half goal City had a second goal controversially ruled out for interference on an atypically-wobbly Alisson Becker, and were made to pay the price with Alexander-Arnold’s terrific technical goal.
[ MORE: Player ratings | Watch Man City vs Liverpool full match replay ]
City fired forward late and had several chances to win it in stoppage time alone, but the Reds held firm to claim a point.
The clubs remain 1-2 on the Premier League table, with City on 29 points and Liverpool holding 28. Arsenal can go top of the table with a win over Brentford, while Spurs can move level on points with City by beating Aston Villa.
Guardiola’s, Klopp’s plans deliver righteous scrap
It would’ve been tempting to draw this up as — pardon the Aerosmith reference, Mr. John Henry — the same old song and dance, as Erling Haaland was the difference for most of the match and Liverpool kept on fighting for a result despite little hold of the midfield.
But this was not quite that, was it? Sure those things are largely true, but Pep Guardiola and Co. drew up a plan to tilt the field to one side while also quieting Haaland’s main rival for Premier League Player of the Year... and it worked for the first time in ages.
Mohamed Salah had a moment or two, as he does, but Manchester City largely shut down the Egyptian, who has been simply sensational for club and country and has also been the cause of many a Liverpool moment in this rivalry. Salah has scored in five of his last six Premier League matches versus City, including the lone goal in a win at Anfield last season.
Did he ever find speed bumps on Saturday, though? Salah had three chances created by just five touches in the City box and was challenged for both time and space by a relentless City defense.
The brilliant part of this match, however, was that both managers’ plans involved targeting Trent Alexander-Arnold... and both largely worked!
Guardiola wanted to get Jeremy Doku on the ball against Trent Alexander-Arnold and tell the Belgian to go to work. In fact, you could almost see Doku light up when he realized it was him against “TAA” 1v1. And he repeatedly cooked the English right back, winning 17-of-25 duels in the match while Alexander-Arnold lost 10-of-15, but that wasn’t the end of the story.
Klopp wanted Alexander-Arnold to drive his attack and would’ve known his right side would take its lumps as TAA vs Doku is a mismatch. So Klopp took his lumps knowing the strength of Alexander-Arnold with the ball at his feet. Doku might’ve been the Man of the Match but Alexander-Arnold was right there with him! Alexander-Arnold was limited to 66 touches — Klopp would prefer him a centurion — but scored the goal and sent eight balls into the final third.
Who knows how many chances were snuffed by Alexander-Arnold’s perceived need to pay attention to Doku? Yet also, the Reds had no one who could hang with Doku and also drive the play.
And so, perhaps it’s worth saying that there was an element of the “same old” here, because both Guardiola and Klopp drew up winning plans and a renewed rivalry delivered entertainment to neutrals.
What’s next?
Liverpool hosts LASK Linz on Thursday in Europa League action before a 9am ET Sunday, Dec. 3 visit from Fulham in the Premier League.
Man City will entertain RB Leipzig on Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League, and then it’s a massive 11:30am ET Sunday, Dec. 3 visit from Tottenham.
How to watch Manchester City vs Liverpool live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 7:30am ET, Saturday (November 25)
TV Channel: Peacock
Online: Stream via Peacock Premium
Manchester City vs Liverpool player ratings
Here are Joe Prince-Wright’s player ratings live from the Etihad
Manchester City vs Liverpool final score
Goals: Haaland (27'), Alexander-Arnold (80')
Pep Guardiola reaction: Proud to limit Liverpool
“That was an excellent performance. I am really proud that after eight years we are still playing that way. We were really good in all departments and needed to be against an incredible team.
“Maybe we missed the last pass a little bit but they defended really well. To concede just two shots on target against Liverpool is a big compliment for the way we work.”
Jurgen Klopp reaction: Gives Jota, Alisson injury updates, says ‘If we played well, we could’ve won’
“It’s a really good moment. It’s a tough place to come, it’s no coincidence that they win that many home games. You’d need more time to prepare for the game properly, especially in these kind of circumstances.
“We’re still in a process. If we’d played really well today, we could have won. We didn’t. We played okay. We caused them problems as well, but our good moments didn’t feel that good to us. We had to stretch ourselves again. We adapted our positioning slightly. Unfortunately we lost Diogo [Jota], with [Alisson Becker] we’ll have to see.
“I told the boys at half-time, imagine what it would be like if we were playing well. We had to settle a little bit. Putting Trent in a different position defensively, plus Dom [Szoboszlai] and Mo [Salah] closing that gap in the second half gave us much more stability. From there we could play football ourselves. We had good moments. I wish we could have had more. For the moment we’re in, we should take the point as a success. I have nothing to complain about there. Trent made a difference today. Before we start talking about positioning, I think it helps us having him on the right wing from time to time.”
Manchester City vs Liverpool live updates as they happened! - By Joe Prince-Wright at Etihad Stadium
FINAL: Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool
GOALLL! Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool (Trent Alexander-Arnold, 80th minute)
There it is. After all of those City chances, Liverpool have made them pay. Alexander-Arnold gets the ball on the edge of the box and drills a low shot into the far corner. Game on!
CLOSE! Haaland looked certain to score
Doku, again, cuts inside and crosses for Haaland but Liverpool block the shot.
SAVE! Ederson does well to deny Nunez at his near post
Salah threads through a lovely ball to Nunez but his shot at the near post is pushed wide by Ederson. Guardiola is trying to rally the home crowd here. It has got a bit nervy as Liverpool push for an equalizer.
Intriguing final 20 minutes coming up
City think they are 2-0 up as Ruben Dias flicks home but Akanji is adjudged to have fouled Alisson as the cross came in. That looks very soft. VAR has a look and the goal is disallowed. City can feel a little hard done by with th at.
Should be 2-0 to Manchester City!
Jeremy Doku beats Alexis Mac Allister easily and cuts it back to Julian Alvarez but he skies his shot from 12 yards out. Huge chance for City. Brilliant from Doku once again. Liverpool make a double change shortly after with Gravenberch and Diaz on for Jones and Jota.
Back underway for the second half
No changes for either side but Liverpool are on the attack as they hunt for an equalizer.
🚨 Manchester City lead Liverpool 1-0 as Erling Haaland breaks yet another record. Can City kick on? Will Liverpool make one of these counters count?
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) November 25, 2023
WATCH LIVE + analysis ➡️ https://t.co/K7WEk8R8Eb
My half time thoughts on Manchester City vs Liverpool ⤵️ #MCFC #LFC #MCILIV pic.twitter.com/6Aw3NBGQ71
HALF TIME: Manchester City 1-0 Liverpool
That was a slow-burner of a game but despite Manchester City taking the lead and having chances to make it 2-0, Liverpool are still in this and have created chances on the counter. City look pretty open when Liverpool string a couple of direct passes together. This is finely balanced.
Really open end to the first half
Liverpool getting some joy on the counter but so are City as Alvarez can’t quite find Haaland on the first attempt, then Phil Foden’s low shot is saved superbly by Alisson with City’s second counter. Then at the other end Ederson claws the ball away as an overhit pass misses everyone and almost goes straight in. Gasps here at the Etihad.
Liverpool have a few chances after the goal
This has been a good response from Liverpool as they almost get clear on the counter, then a poor giveaway allows Nunez a shot on goal but he’s pushed too wide and hits the side-netting. City getting a little sloppy before half time.
GOALLL! Manchester City 1-0 Liverpool - Erling Haaland (27th minute)
There’s the opener and it all came after Alisson went to play a quick ball forward but he slipped as he kicked it as he made yet another mistake early on. Nathan Ake got hold of the loose ball, beat two Liverpool players easily and slotted in Erling Haaland who finished into the far corner as Alisson should have probably saved the shot. Haaland has now set the record (yes, another one) as the fastest player to 50 Premier League goals in history. He’s done it in 48 games. Andy Cole’s record (65 games for 50 goals) has been broken.
Doku the standout player so far
Jeremy Doku is causing so many problems down the left. His cross is pushed clear by Alisson with Haaland lurking and Liverpool scramble it clear. Doku is turning Alexander-Arnold inside out and Liverpool just can’t stop him cutting inside. Haaland is going to get on the end of one of these crosses in a minute.
Liverpool go close to an opener through Nunez
Really good stop from Ederson to deny Darwin Nunez, as his flicked header from a wonderful Mohamed Salah cross was heading into the top corner. Kyle Walker then clears the rebound as Diogo Jota fouls him. Liverpool finally have an attempt at goal and their long balls out to Salah are working. The game is starting to open up with Alisson closed down by Haaland at one end, then Liverpool trying to spring another counter at the other but Nunez was offside.
Bright start from Man City with Doku at the heart of it
The hosts have had plenty of the ball early on and Jeremy Doku is running at Trent Alexander-Arnold whenever he gets the chance. City are clicking through the gears. Liverpool yet to get going.
Hello and welcome to Etihad Stadium on an absolutely beautiful day! The weather is cold and crisp here in England’s north west and the stage is set for yet another massive game between the two teams who sit first and second in the Premier League table.
👋🔵🔴 Hello and welcome to the Etihad for a massive game between the Premier League’s top two!
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) November 25, 2023
Watch live + analysis, reaction, videos ➡️ https://t.co/K7WEk8R8Eb
My thoughts ahead of Manchester City v Liverpool ⤵️ #MCFC #LFC #MCILIV pic.twitter.com/xLyC59wDax
The big team news is that City have Erling Haaland fit to start, while Jack Grealish misses out as Pro Soccer Talk understands he is sick. Curtis Jones starts in midfield for Liverpool, with Matip at center back and Tsimikas at left back.
🔵🔴☀️ Beautiful day for a huge game here in Manchester! #MCFC #LFC #MCILIV
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) November 25, 2023
Watch Manchester City vs Liverpool live + analysis, videos, reaction & more ➡️ https://t.co/K7WEk8RGtJ pic.twitter.com/Scs9NJuuL4
Focus on Manchester City, team news
City are top of the league but they’ve given the chasing pack hope with several sloppy performances so far this season. Their draw at Chelsea last time out summed up the issues they’ve been having with a real lack of control in midfield hampering Guardiola’s side. That said, they have won 23 home games in a row in all competitions and a win against Liverpool would equal the English top-flight record of 24. John Stones has joined Kevin de Bruyne on the sidelines but the latter is working his way back to a return in the next month or so. Mateo Kovacic, Erling Haaland, Sergio Gomez, Nathan Ake, Ederson and Matheus Nunes should all shake off issues and be available.
Manchester City lineup (3-2-4-1)
Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake; Rodri, Akanji; Foden, Silva, Alvarez, Doku; Haaland
Haaland injury news
Erling Haaland played for Norway against the Faroe Islands during the international break but he suffered a reoccurrence of a foot injury which has been bothering him this season and did not play in their second game of the international break against Scotland. Guardiola confirmed that Haaland took part in training on Thursday but had a ‘few niggles’ and was hoping he could play some part against Liverpool on Saturday. Luckily for City, Haaland has shaken off that knock and starts up top.
Focus on Liverpool, team news
Klopp has gone back to all-out attack for most games and it is working as Salah, Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai have struck up a great partnership in attack. Yes, the balance could be better but this Liverpool side are a lot of fun to watch and they’re taking plenty of risks. They have also lost just one league game in their last 23 outings dating back to last season. Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic remain out, while Andy Robertson is recovering from shoulder surgery and Curtis Jones is still out with a hamstring issue. Alexis Mac Allister is back from suspension, while Ryan Gravenberch, Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate are all battling to be fit for this clash.
Liverpool lineup (4-3-3)
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Nunez, Jota
How many goals does Mohamed Salah have this season?
As we mentioned, Salah is on fire and he has scored 10 goals in 12 Premier League games for Liverpool this season. He also scored four goals for Egypt in their 6-0 World Cup qualifying win against Djibouti over the November international break.
