Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk admits "bittersweet" feeling over Man City draw
In the final English top-flight showdown between Pep Guardiola and the departing Jurgen Klopp, only a win would suffice for both managers if their side was to return to the top of the table with 10 games left to play.
Arsenal had usurped both of their titles foes by beating Brentford on Saturday evening, and with a multitude of players out injured — while Mohamed Salah and Andrew Robertson failed to make the first XI — Liverpool made the worse start at Anfield.
The Reds were undone by a magnificent set-piece routine for the Citizens' opener, as Kevin De Bruyne's exquisite low delivery to the near post found John Stones, who prodded the ball past Caoimhin Kelleher from less than a yard out.
Stones's delivery invoked a fire within the Liverpool contingent, though, and Klopp's side were awarded a penalty in the second minute of the second half as Ederson wiped out Darwin Nunez.
With Salah still confined to the bench, Alexis Mac Allister picked out the top corner with a stunning spot kick to draw the Reds level, and Klopp's men were totally dominant in the remaining 40 minutes of normal time.
However, the hosts spurned a glut of chances to take the lead — Luis Diaz, a real livewire otherwise, was particularly guilty of a lack of killer instinct — and while Harvey Elliott struck in injury time, the offside flag had long gone up.
With the final attack of the game, Jeremy Doku — who had hit the post moments earlier — miraculously escaped giving away a penalty for a high boot onto Mac Allister's chest, seemingly being saved by getting a slight touch on the ball.
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