EPL:Alexander-Arnold Rescues Liverpool Draw A Man City
2 min read
By Sedara Philip
Manchester City failed to equal the English top-flight record of 24 straight home wins in all competitions as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.
Erling Haaland struck his 50th Premier League goal to open the scoring but Trent Alexander-Arnold arrowed home brilliantly late on to earn the visitors a point.
Still, the draw ensures City will stay top into next week.
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Haaland opened the scoring on 27 minutes when he collected Nathan Ake’s pass and drilled a low strike into the bottom corner following a miscued kick from visiting goalkeeper, Alisson.
It saw the Norwegian forward obliterate Andrew Cole’s previous record of 50 top-flight goals in 65 outings, with the 23-year-old achieving the feat in just 48 matches.
Liverpool had contributed to a lively and even first half with Darwin Nunez failing to make the most of a series of good openings, including one header that was well saved by a full-stretch Ederson.
City created the better chances in the second half but the visitors silenced the home crowd 10 minutes from time when Alexander-Arnold rifled a sublime low shot into the far corner to earn a share of the spoils.
The result means City fail to equal the English top-flight record of 24 straight home wins in all competitions, set by Sunderland in the 1890s, and they remain just the one point ahead of the second-placed Merseysiders with the rest of the weekend’s top-flight fixtures to come.
There have been clear suggestions the Merseysiders and their revamped midfield could be set to challenge this season, but this was perhaps the acid test.
Man City will feel they should have doubled their lead before Alexander-Arnold’s wonderful equaliser, but in truth this was an even game with the visitors defending well and going toe-to-toe with Pep Guardiola’s Treble winners for long spells.
In a battle of the top two, Jurgen Klopp will be the happier of the two managers given his side again had to come from behind, were away from home and were up against City’s imperious form at the Etihad – indeed, the Citizens were perfect at home in 2023 until TAA intervened.
Results later in this round of fixtures may see Liverpool drop a place or two, but after 13 games played, one defeat and their toughest away match of the season out of the way, this was a major boost for the Reds, who will now have galvanised belief they could yet go on to achieve special things this season.
