Instant Classic At Anfield! - Liverpool 2-2 Man City - Classic Premier League Highlights

Let out into the cauldron, Red Liverpool, let's them know what it thinks. And so the special game, special for its time-honoured setting, its immediate significance, its context in the modern history of our sport, the charisma of its coaches, the rapt attention of the planet, the extravagant panoply of playing talent and the hairs on the back of your neck, ambience of Anfield. Well, Clock Guardiola has always been a gripping dynamic, but it is of course principally about the players they pick. Alisson in goal for Liverpool, regardless of a horrible game he had against City in February. It was well pre-advertised that Trent Alexander-Arnold would miss this, and after a very good hour in Porto midweek, it's James Milner who continues at right full-back. With Thiago still unavailable, the midfield three remains untouched. Curtis Jones has certainly stepped up over the last week, and regardless of Roberto Firmino's two midweek goals from the bench, it's Diogo Jota who gets the start again. Salah and Mane also on target in Porto, and notable that Nico Williams is back on the Premier League bench for Liverpool. It is five consecutive Premier League clean sheets for Ederson in City's goal, though he and this unchanged back four were momentarily powerless in the face of Lionel Messi on Tuesday. Diaz and Cancelo have both played every Premier League minute. Silva, Rodri and De Bruyne all started at Chelsea and in Paris. One more big push from them now. In fact, it's the same eleven that began at Stamford Bridge, so Jesus and Foden as opposed to Mahrez and Sterling. One little tweak, they have two goalkeepers on the bench. Otherwise, Jim, as you'd expect. Yeah, well Alexander-Arnold has been Manchester City's pressure point in recent times, and maybe they'll focus on his 35-year-old replacement today, Peter. It's a big job too on and off the ball for Liverpool's front three, and if City do seek a crack or two down Liverpool's right, we may well see De Bruyne hook up with Grealish and Cancelo. I'll be fascinated to see if they can sustain recent intensity. And the elite stars of the Premier League unite again around the message that there is no room for racism. Within these shores, the rivalry of our day. A while since anyone but these two has been the champion of our land. Boy, there are some good players out there. So what decides this, Jim Beglin? Well, that's a very difficult question to answer. I just have great admiration for this fixture and what it's produced in recent times. I think each manager pays a heavy respect to the art of defending, Peter, and we've just seen from Ederson, away from Cancelo, in for Henderson who's won a quarter. Yeah, and City have to be alive for that because they've been through two tough games, as you mentioned, Peter, and they know that Liverpool are going to try and come with them strongly. James Milner back in front of the Kop. Milner without swing, nicked out as far as Salah, clouted against the back of Grealish. Cancelo, oh, stabbing it very cleverly for Foden. And now Bernardo Silva, drifting past Matip, hanging it up towards Jesus, and it's nicked behind by Andy Robertson for a City corner. I mean, Cancelo has beautiful footwork. Just watch this outside of the right foot. I mean, this is beautiful to get Foden in beside. And Matip didn't necessarily do himself any favours here in allowing Bernardo Silva just to drift past. Foden takes. Alisson got fingers on it. Mane is seeking to emerge with it. Jones couldn't turn. Bernardo Silva was very tight. And Rodri recomposes for Manchester City. That's a poor clearance from Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus against Matip and behind for a corner. And Alisson has just kicked the post in frustration. He's taken us right back to February with what he's just done there. That's what we were witnessing then. And on that occasion, Manchester City were in punishing mood. Not yet. A lovely start from Liverpool's generally composed keeper. Grealish, De Bruyne, Foden. Neither one thing nor the other. Well, I just wonder whether he could see another couple of light blue shirts just inside him. And I was wondering whether he was thinking about just kind of nodding it their way and maybe he got caught in two minds in the end. But that's what you don't want to see. De Bruyne with time. Yeah, but I think you just saw a moment or so ago, Manchester City are getting a feel for the ball, although De Bruyne has just given it away, as has Henderson. Henderson lost it to Bernardo Silva. Silva's gone through a full pirouette and keeps on dancing. That is brilliant for Bernardo Silva. And he's found Phil Foden, who is thwarted by Alisson. What a glorious run from the little Portuguese. Now Cancelo aimed towards Jesus and Alisson's there again. Yeah, I mean, Henderson was the one who lost it and he thought he was going to get it back there. I think he might have just got a foot on it, but Bernardo Silva kept going. And this is just an incredible run, mazy run. And then you've got the incision to find Foden. Yeah, and he drove it. It could have been lifted. Cancelo is running into Milner's territory now. That's a clever ball for De Bruyne, who had the same angle there as Cristiano Ronaldo yesterday. Well, I'm sure Jurgen Klopp would love to be seeing that kind of football at the other end. That's what Manchester City have, the precision and the quickness of play once they get into the final third. Some lovely movement. Again, the angle is very tight. It's not an easy chance for De Bruyne, but it is another chance. De Bruyne for Foden. Milner's labouring back. Contact with Foden. That will be examined. Portini is happy to award a goal kick. And Liverpool have taken it quickly before any questions can be asked. Now Cancelo. Grealish! Flags up. So it wouldn't have counted. And Phil Foden is still inquiring about the penalty. The check is complete on this. Yeah, James Milner getting across. I think it's one of those that just decided that. It seemed the initial contact was side to side. And maybe outside the box. There's a line issue here as well. Yeah, I mean, James Milner, once he realised he was making some sort of contact, he did his utmost to pull away from it. Bernardo Silva. Foden. De Bruyne was hurtling in and didn't really establish any control over his header. Well, that's just ridiculously easy for Manchester City to be able to work this. Phil Foden is in line, but he's got all the time in the world to get the cross in. And I'm sorry, but Kevin De Bruyne has got to be getting over that. That is a bad miss. There's another beautiful Adison pass and Foden is onto it. And Alisson came out and used his boot to fine effect. But here is Grealish. And Cezas. De Bruyne. Cezas. Peter, I never thought I'd say this, but Manchester City have a playmaker in goal. What a fabulous pass. There's Cancelo. There's Foden. Scratched away by Robertson. Foden loves it in this place. You mentioned his performance back in February. And he's at it again. All but an assist or a goal. But he is fizzing down that left hand side. Passer of the game so far is the Manchester City goalkeeper. Just have a look at that. He knows exactly what he's trying to do. And he's trying to set Phil Foden away. And he does just that. But the keeper at the other end makes a very important interruption. Liverpool attacking the Kop, as they prefer to do. Have so far given a performance which Jurgen Klopp would prefer not to have seen. Just a bit perplexing. Foden hauled down by Milner, who knows he has to see a card for that. By the way, Milner is getting ripped to pieces by Foden. Whether City are just playing the ball around him and getting Foden in behind, or whether Foden's just taking him on directly. He's got a problem. A very uncomfortable moment for James Milner, who in all competitions has played now just about five hours of football for Liverpool this season. And whilst he's been on the haven't conceded. But they've been under pressure today. He has been under pressure today. Three minutes in the first half gone. Liverpool you sense could do with the sanctuary of the dressing room. City could do with the goal. But their territorial advantage really merits. Flung in by Foden. And the four in blue shirts on the back foot. Half time of Ranfield. That has been a surprisingly uncomfortable watch. And Jürgen Klopp can't wait to get off and have his say. He needs to have his say. Foden's had the run of the place. Kevin de Bruyne should have scored with a header. Somehow the Reds have got through to half time without being penetrated. And at a rather bemused Anfield, the half time score remains Liverpool nil, Manchester City nil. Well amongst many other things ahead of this weekend, this game was set up by the statisticians as the best attack in the league. Liverpool against the best defence in the league, Manchester City. Right now that attack has barely tested that defence. It's all been at the other end. Manchester City's only cause for regret that a really very fine composed poised first half didn't come up with the goal that it really merited. Liverpool's big bonus is that they are still where they started. Forward by Robertson. Got Diaz. In went Walker. It fell for Henderson. And now Curtis Jones. As Liverpool set out to render this a game of two very distinct halves. That would be their intention. Fabinho. Salah. Milner. Well clutched by Edison. Yeah but just listen to the appreciation around the stadium because that's what they want to see more of. And it's Liverpool basically going back to basics. Just be able to control the ball and then just pick off the runners in behind and on that occasion Milner got into a very good position. Curtis Jones. Fabinho. Matip. Diogo Soto. What a pivot! What a hit! What a stop by Edison who gets a second go and wraps it up. Welcome to the game Liverpool. And again it's Matip. I commented in the first half about his accuracy and that's with great purpose. And it's well hit by Jota but it was never likely to beat the keeper because it's down the middle. And at the moment Matip seems to be the best supply route for Liverpool. Salah. Fabinho. Salah. Oh they've manoeuvred the ball beautifully here Liverpool and Salah's off and running. And Mane's ahead of him. It is Sadio Mane! A disbelieving cop roar. A very very good goal and it is a goal of vast significance potentially. Well the message at halftime would have been you've got to raise the level. You've got to raise it significantly. But this is quite incredible what Liverpool have just managed to do now. I mean when Salah got off and running and was able to pick out the movement from Mane, you just kind of felt there was only one result. I mean Liverpool look as if they've got their focus back in this second half and that is just blistering. That counter-attack has been devastating. Henderson. Liverpool have oiled their engine. Robertson. Away by Laporte. Chased up again by Robertson who was fouled and Liverpool have a free kick and the place is suddenly boiling and bubbling and entirely different. Yeah well now Manchester City are getting their pocket picked. Yeah Ederson just going to his post just to check that the wall is in the correct position. Salah. Corner. Clever little angle that. Nicked off the end of the wall. Yeah I mean that's why I think Ederson was just going to look at it. Bernardo Silva. De Bruyne. Slung towards Jesus. That's a cracking ball. Gabriel Jesus against Milner. And out comes Alisson to gather. Yeah he didn't take it inside enough and Milner didn't have to work too hard. All he had to do was just make a step or two. But you knew that Jesus was likely to come inside on his right foot as soon as he picks this up and he did control it well. Made it easier for Milner. Liverpool in terms of on target first half there was nothing and they've um they've certainly um livened up second. Jesus. Gabriel Jesus and Phil Foden. That is a super finish and it has silenced the Kop. He rises to this occasion every time and now the blue boys are jumping up and down. Well I think he's been Manchester City's best player. Phil Foden. I think he's caused Liverpool a lot of trouble on that side and when this move eventually unfolds his way I just think it's absolutely sensational the way he finds the far corner. I mean when you pick it up here you've not got a lot to aim at and yet he drilled it. He absolutely drilled it with great precision just inside the post and Alisson can do very little about it and he thinks he's big on the front post and yet when it's that good the keepers have very little chance. Bernardo Soffer off on another of his mazes. He was just too smart for them. Henderson's left him on the floor. Yeah well the one the one you'd worry about is Milner and I think that is wondering why he's not been booked. Exactly because second yellow card and he's walking and they said yeah Henderson's the first nibble but then Milner. It's watch Milner here he just sticks the leg out and he's very fortunate to escape that and Pep Guardiola having witnessed that is failing to understand why Paul Tierney hasn't witnessed it. That's it. Jones. Salah. Escape can Salah. Oh that's brilliant from Mo Salah and still Salah. Oh sensational. All to dream of. Managed that. A blur of brilliance. He's managed that because he's one of the very best in the world at this moment in time and I think Jürgen Klopp did well not to make the and withdraw Milner and get Gomez on and it's just given Salah that chance to do what he's done and look there's not many players that can weave through a defense which has been incredible so far this season and then finish on his weaker side like that. That is brilliant. Okay not the best attempt at a challenge from Bernardo Silva but once he got his chance Laporte thought yeah he's going on a stronger left. Salah was going no I'm not. Have some of that. That's genius. Not bad for a one season wonder. De Bruyne now Sterling's in. Raheem Sterling where was Foden and there for the first time was Gomez. Switched on from the outset. High fives all round. Yeah sometimes it's just hard to make up the ground. Sometimes you don't do enough and um I think Foden was trying to get there and make the run across Gomez but couldn't. Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Ruben Diaz, Alisson. What we have ahead of us now 10 surely stormy minutes. Yeah well Pep's yellow card was triggered by the fact that Milner didn't get a second yellow card. It went on from there. De Bruyne. That's a lovely ball. Foden. Walker stepped over it. De Bruyne! Another gem of a goal in a gem of a game. Pumped is he. Two each. It's becoming an epic. Oh give me this every week. I mean you knew Manchester City weren't going to just sit on it and remember it was De Bruyne who started that in finding Foden. Yes there's a little deflection into his path and it looked like it just glanced off Matip. Just watch Alisson. He's on the move thinking well I'm going to get something on this and it just glances off Matip and then takes it away from the dive of Alisson when he thinks he's going to stop it and De Bruyne has got some good fortune here at the cop end. What's coming next? A game that was goalless for all but a few seconds of its first hour has now produced four goals in a little over 20 minutes. Salah upended. Another Liverpool free kick. Bernardo Silva. He's finding it hard to empathise, sympathise with that decision. He needs to be careful. He is in the book. Yeah but you want to stop after what he's done. You want to stop Salah at source before he can get into his stride. I was thinking Manchester City have gone face to face with Genius a couple of times this week haven't they after being messied. Here's Salah again. Van Dijk got a bump. Fabinho has scored but for an extraordinary block from Rodri. For a full second then the goal gate. That's the equivalent of a goal. And Fabinho is still holding his head and wondering. Extraordinary from Rodri. Time stood still here. Yeah I think Fabinho maybe thought he just had a little more time but that's just fantastic work by Rodri to read it. Exceptional. You're thinking there goal, it's goal and yet that happens. Walker chases and Sterling and De Bruyne. He's got away. The nerves. Wow the nervousness around the stadium. Surely now it can't go with a third goal for Manchester City. Especially if it's Sterling. Yeah it looked good when he controlled it on his chest and then he had De Bruyne moving outside him but nothing materialised. 90 minutes up. Salah. One last dance. Four minutes added on. Foden away. Back by Matip. Henderson's busy. Rodri turning out of trouble. De Bruyne turning over halfway. Sterling's ahead of him. This is Raheem Sterling for Manchester City. Would he? Jesus! Against the back of Robertson. A wonderful composure as well by Sterling but you're talking about hearing the Kop breathe. Well that was a hell of a gulp. Magic. What a magic football match. An embrace of neutral respect. A contest of ferocity and marvellous talent. Wonderful goals. Liverpool led twice. City equalised twice. Mane, Foden, Salah, De Bruyne. In the end from a neutral perspective you could only say thank you. What a treat. Look at the warmth of appreciation that each player from either side has for the other and that is how sport at the very top level, ideally in the perfect world, should absolutely be. And this in Premier League terms is as close as you get to the perfect world. Liverpool 2, Manchester City 2.