Liverpool and Manchester City served up a Premier League classic at Anfield, as the defending champions twice battled back to draw 2-2 on an evening when momentum swung wildly between the two title rivals.
The home side during a first half in which City targeted struggling stand-in right-back James Milner – were transformed at the start of the second period and hit the front when Mohamed Salah played in Sadio Mane for his 99th Premier League goal.
The excellent Phil Foden arrowed in an equaliser against the run of play 10 minutes later but Salah again gave Liverpool the lead, scoring one of his finest goals in their colours by beating four City defenders and drilling home.
On the touchline Pep Guardiola was still incensed that Milner had not been shown a second yellow moments before the goal. But he was roaring with delight five minutes later, when Kevin De Bruyne hooked in City’s second equaliser off Joel Matip.
There was still time for even more late drama, as desperate blocks from Rodri and Andy Robertson in the final moments prevented either side grabbing a late winner, but in the end a draw was a fitting result between the Premier League’s standout sides in recent seasons, who look primed to battle it out with league leaders Chelsea over the course of this campaign.
