Manchester City had won everything at home in 2023. The best team of the moment was about to break a record from two centuries ago held by Sunderland in 1892. But the number of consecutive victories in all competitions remained at 23 of Pep Guardiola’s team. It was Liverpool, which once again served as the Mancunians’ nemesis. After a period of reconstruction and fine-tuning, Klopp’s team is once again, with the permission of Arsenal, the main rival for the Premier of the almighty City, whom he once again frustrated when everything was ready for a new celebration.
The contemporary Premier League classic did not disappoint. First against second. Control against vertigo. Extremely tactical duel that City ruled without being able to sentence. Klopp and Guardiola had played 28 duels to date, who had won the last two. The German had never taken a knee three times in a row and managed to maintain that statistic thanks to a draw that allows them to remain just one point behind the current champion.
They dominated and overwhelmed the home team at the start against a cautious but expeditious opponent when the timing of the game allowed it. In fact, the first big chance was for Darwin Núñez, new idol of the Merseyside team thanks to his goals. But it was not the Uruguayan who found the net, but Erling Haaland.
Ten days ago, the entire Manchester City staff shook their heads when they saw how their scorer, the most voracious striker in all of Europe, was lying on the ground after receiving a blow in a reckless friendly between Norway and the Faroe Islands. The Viking recovered in time and his presence was once again transcendental. Aké took advantage of a bad goal kick from Alisson to overcome several rivals and assist the forward, who scored his 14th goal of the season in the Premier with his left foot, his 50th since he has been in the Premier. The Norwegian has reached that figure in 48 games. Andy Cole, the fastest after Haland, had needed 65 games.
The City government gradually gave way to a back-and-forth in which the locals continued to be much more dangerous. But Julián Álvarez, very unwise, was not able to score the many chances he had.
With ten minutes left came the blow from Klopp’s team, who had not been dangerous in Ederson’s area for many minutes. A youth player born in Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold, hit a cross shot from the top of the area and silenced the Ettihad Stadium by putting his index finger to his lips. He celebrated like a fan, a goal that symbolizes the fight for the title. City has dominated the Premier in recent years, but once again they will have to take down Klopp and that silent army that he has built, but that is already ready for a new battle
