ETIHAD STADIUM, MANCHESTER // Trent Alexander-Arnold earned Liverpool a valuable point thanks to a 1-1 draw with Manchester City, which keeps the Reds in touching distance of the defending champion.
Having been penned in by its host early on, Liverpool came perilously close to taking the lead when Darwin Núñez saw his header clawed out by Ederson from Mohamed Salah’s cross. Despite the Reds growing into the game, it would be City who took the lead through its usual source.
A sliced attempt from Alisson to find Salah on the break dropped kindly for Nathan Ake, who slid the ball to Erling Haaland who had managed to find some space between Joël Matip and Virgil van Dijk. The Norwegian made no mistake as he managed to find the back of the net despite Alisson getting a hand to the shot.
Although the Reds weren’t threatened too often after the break, they couldn’t produce much themselves to get back level. Rúben Dias had a goal ruled out after Manuel Akanji’s push on Alisson, before the goalkeeper was called into action shortly after to deny Haaland.
It proved to be a huge intervention, with Liverpool finding themselves level with around 10 minutes to go as Alexander-Arnold expertly found the bottom corner of the net. Here are the six things Liverpool.com spotted as the game unfolded.
Matip on the attack
Liverpool found itself penned into its own half for much of the opening exchanges. Jürgen Klopp would have fully expected his side to be in the rare position of giving up the lion’s share of possession.
And when the Reds did get on the ball, they found practically all their avenues closed off by City. It would need something out of the ordinary to open up the host.
It almost arrived in a somewhat unexpected form. A marauding Joël Matip managed to find space that none of his other teammates could, and began a move that resulted in Ederson clawing out Darwin Núñez’s header from Mohamed Salah’s cross.
It came after a great start for Matip defensively, with the 32-year-old in the right place on a few occasions to snuff out some dangerous balls from Jérémy Doku. Ibrahima Konaté might have been expected by many to start ahead of the Cameroonian, but Matip is showing there is still a strong argument for him to earn a new deal at the club.
An off-day for Alisson
Alisson has been Liverpool’s savior on so many occasions. The Brazilian has so often come up with a big save when his side needed it.
misplaced pass was cut out by Phil Foden, and the England international should have worked the goalkeeper more thereafter, while Haaland almost caught Alisson out just mere inches from his goal line, although Curtis Jones’ pass did him no favors.
But it was far from the assured display we come to expect, and it proved to be his downfall moments later when his attempt to set Salah away on the break was sliced straight to Nathan Ake, who found Haaland for the inevitable result.
It won’t escape anyone’s attention that his compatriot Ederson missed the international break, giving him plenty of time to rest up while Alisson had to play both games for Brazil. Still, not the best time to have an off-day.
Haaland shows Núñez reality
The 2023/24 version of Darwin Núñez is undoubtedly an improvement on last season’s iteration. There were signs of that at the Etihad as well, with the Uruguay international tracking back well to win the ball and picking up gaps in the City defense.
There was though evidence that Jürgen Klopp still has a lot of work to do before he’s the finished article. Far too often, Núñez squandered encouraging positions for Liverpool by being caught offside, or not proving decisive upon receiving the ball.
Compare that to his opposite number, as so many have since his arrival in the Premier League, and the reality becomes even harsher. Despite being a year younger, Haaland is the complete package, with his first-half goal the complete antithesis of what we’d seen from Núñez in similar positions.
Both players possess blistering pace, but the Norwegian is clearly more assured in his ability to beat defenders. Whereas Núñez was guilty of starting his runs too early, Haaland was happy to stick alongside Matip and Van Dijk, knowing he would be favorite in a footrace.
Despite Núñez’s improvement this season, his City counterpart is still a long way ahead of him. And unfortunately, that was clear to see on this occasion.
Everton protest
The past week has been dominated by Everton’s 10-point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules. The verdict from an independent commission has led to much speculation as to what might now happen to City, with their 115 charges hanging over them.
Those at the Etihad might have seen a banner flying over the stadium ahead of kick-off in protest at the Toffees’ punishment. The banner was commissioned by Everton fan group The 1878s, with more protests planned for their game against Manchester United tomorrow.
Look at what you could’ve won
The eagle-eyed among you might have spotted a moment in the tunnel at half-time which might have given a glimpse at what could have been for Liverpool. With both sides making their way out for the second half, Klopp shared an embrace with Matheus Nunes, who was not in the City squad on the day.
The Reds were of course heavily linked with the former Wolves midfielder, and he wasn’t the only player who could have been on the opposite side today. Joško Gvardiol grew up as a Liverpool fan and has previously spoken about wanting to play for the Reds, so seeing him only earn a place on the bench might have been particularly galling considering his hefty price tag in the summer.
Not only that, but Jérémy Doku was shown around Liverpool’s training ground as a 16-year-old before choosing to stay put at Anderlecht. You can’t help but wonder what could have been.
A special guest
Luis Díaz initially had to settle for a place on the bench at the Etihad, but he was soon called upon in the second half. There was one fan in the away end who would have been especially delighted to see him making his entrance.
Television cameras picked up Díaz’s father among the traveling support. The Colombian’s family have been flown over to the UK by Liverpool in order to spend Christmas with the 26-year-old following his release by kidnappers.
It wasn’t quite the win he nor any of those traveling fans would have wanted, but it was nevertheless great to see Díaz Sr watching his son again, and he looked as though he enjoyed seeing him play a part in the all-important equalizer.
