PEP GUARDIOLA has the potential to become the first manager to win four successive English titles, and he might complete a double Treble this season.
However, the Manchester City manager will never defeat Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in front of an Anfield crowd.
Alexis MacAllister equalised from the penalty spot.
John Stones gave Manchester City a first-half lead.
Stones fired home from Kevin De Bruyne’s superb corner.
City survived a second-half monstering by the Reds to escape with a stalemate, with an Alexis MacAllister penalty cancelling out John Stones’ first-half strike.
It means Mikel Arteta was the only winner in the final Premier League duel between Klopp and Guardiola, with his Arsenal team leading Liverpool on goal difference and City by a solitary point.
Guardiola admitted before the match that his job is so difficult that he frequently pretends to be Superman. If that’s true, Anfield is his Planet Krypton.
However, this was Guardiola’s seventh and final effort to win at Liverpool’s home with the doors open, with his only triumph coming in the upcoming campaign of 2020-21.
Because of his fear, the City manager made the rare decision to replace his key creative force, Kevin De Bruyne, midway through the second half.
Liverpool extended their Premier League home unbeaten streak to 26 games, but with Luis Diaz missing a series of chances, they were unable to convert their dominance into yet another comeback victory.
City have gone unbeaten in 21 matches in all competitions. Arsenal has won eight league games in a row.
This is a three-horse race that is both breathless and unrelenting, with world-class talent on display.
Mac Allister wheels away in delight after discovering the net.
It was a tough afternoon for both management.
Jurgen Klopp retained Liverpool’s unblemished home record against Pep Guardiola.
CHELTENHAM BETTING OFFERS: THE BEST FREE BET DEALS FOR THE FESTIVAL
With Mo Salah just fit enough to start on the bench and Ibrahima Konate ruled out due to injury, City had the stronger, more experienced lineup.
After Klopp and Guardiola exchanged a pre-match bearhug, City began with a strut, their pass-and-move routines elegant and intimidating.
Play video.
The Kop’s pre-match anthems were replaced with high-pitched whistles and jeers as City dominated possession, pinning Liverpool back.
Julian Alvarez and De Bruyne both tried Caoimhin Kelleher.
However, Liverpool soon joined in, with Conor Bradley’s low centre aiming at Darwin Nunez, who misjudged the ball and skidded into the back post.
Luis Diaz scored, but Nunez had been offside in the buildup.
Indeed, Nunez was offside for the whole of the first half. Haaland is never offside.
Just as the Reds were about to seize control, they were mugged, with City scoring a set-piece goal bathed in sauce.
As Nathan Ake cleverly blocked Mac Allister, De Bruyne produced an arcing low corner with velocity and accuracy to the near post, where Stones prodded in.
Carlos Vicens, City’s set-piece coach, grinned as if he had just overseen a spectacular heist.
Stones and his friends partied with City fans in the Anfield Road End.
But Liverpool replied brilliantly, with Dominik Szoboszlai skewing a header wide from a Harvey Elliott cross and Diaz firing wide.
Typically, Liverpool’s efforts were thwarted when Nunez went offside, with the linesman threatening a repetitive strain injury in his fading arm.
At the other end, Haaland and Van Dijk were engaged in an interesting world heavyweight clash of their own, which Liverpool’s captain was edging.
Within two minutes of the restart, the brain-fade occurred, allowing Liverpool back in.
Nunez pounced on Ake’s bad back pass, and Ederson clattered him.
Michael Oliver pointed to the spot, and when Ederson was treated for a self-inflicted injury, Mac Allister smashed home the penalty three minutes later.
Anfield erupted in music, rousing their heroes and rattling the city.
Soon, an injured Ederson was replaced by Stefan Ortega, a Cup custodian with no experience in situations like this.
De Bruyne slanted a pass to Foden, but Kelleher stopped him at the near post.
Then, after being released by Nunez, Diaz fumbled his first touch, prompting Klopp to send for Salah.
The Egyptian quickly sent Diaz clean through, but the Colombian fired wide of the goal.
Next, Diaz made another stupid decision and was robbed by Kyle Walker before pulling the trigger.
It was all Liverpool, flocking around the champs. It was Smothering Sunday.
Guardiola made a hasty decision to replace De Bruyne with Mateo Kovacic. The Belgian expressed his displeasure at length. This type of event does not happen to him.
But it seemed to work; a second holding midfield play restored order in the midfield.
Kelleher punched Ake’s centre, which cannoned off Foden and onto the crossbar.
Walker, who had been terrific, passed a VAR review for a late challenge on Salah.
Ortega knocked aside Jarrell Quansah’s long-range shot, and Diaz won a corner with a furious jinking run at Rodri and Walker.
During a City break, Jeremy Doku shot against the inside of the post.
However, the City substitute survived a VAR review for a high boot on Mac Allister in the dying seconds, and Liverpool failed to find the decisive blow.
