It’s fair to say Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola’s final Premier League clash lived up to the hype on Sunday, as their teams played out an enthralling game at Anfield.
An Alexis Mac Allister penalty early in the second half canceled out John Stones’ first-half effort, ensuring the points were shared between the title rivals.
Here’s how social media reacted to the game.
Rather than the players who were starting the game, all of the pre-match talk was dominated by the absentees from Liverpool’s lineup.
Despite featuring on Thursday in the Europa League, Mohamed Salah wasn’t deemed fit enough to start, while centre-back Ibrahima Konate’s injury concern picked up in midweek meant he wasn’t included in the matchday squad at all.
Salah’s absence from the starting XI received a particularly mixed reaction from Reds fans.
I’m sorry, but Salah had to start today.
He’s been in training since Wednesday, played 20 minutes and looked great Thursday, and we don’t have another PL game for 3 weeks. Rest him for the FA Cup next week if we have to.
It’s too big a game. I don’t get that at all.
— Laurie (@LFCLaurie) March 10, 2024
Salah not starting is not a surprise when he hasn’t played a full 90 for 2 months and just recovered last week. No point risking him, despite how massive this game is.
— Samuel (@SamueILFC) March 10, 2024
There was also some discontent about Konate being risked by Jurgen Klopp in Liverpool’s expectedly comfortable win over Sparta Prague on Thursday, too.
Konate starting Thursday night was laughable
— Sean (@SeanDOlfc) March 10, 2024
After an opening 20 minutes in which the injury-riddled Liverpool more than held their own against a full-strength Manchester City, the visitors’ quality eventually told in the 23rd minute.
The recently fully-fit Kevin De Bruyne curled a delightful ball into the near post area to Stones and the centre-back made no mistake with his volleyed effort, sweeping past Caoimhin Kelleher and into the net.
“Corner taken quickly…JOHN STONES”😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/ptBa1iUF8H
— Deng™ (@UTDDengv2) March 10, 2024
That is beautiful from Manchester City, that is outstanding from Kevin De Bruyne it’s a magnificent delivery and John Stones is on hand to turn it in, the routine is just world class, not many or any players play that ball in like De Bruyne it’s just absolutely sensational.
— Josh Bunting (@Buntingfootball) March 10, 2024
While Man City fans rejoiced, Liverpool fans were left aggrieved by the lack of VAR intervention in the goal.
A sly block at the near post from Nathan Ake on Mac Allister which created the space for Stones to run into drew quite a bit of ire.
City would hold onto their lead throughout the remainder of the first half, with both sides missing a few half chances before the whistle.
At the start of the second half, the Reds were gifted a chance to draw level when a calamity of errors from Ake and Ederson resulted in a penalty kick being awarded to the home side.
Ake’s ill-timed back pass to his goalkeeper was cut out by the onrushing Darwin Nunez, who was then chopped to the ground by Ederson on the right of the penalty area.
Up stepped Mac Allister to take the spot kick and the World Cup winner made no mistake from 12 yards out, curling past Ederson and into the side-netting.
Game on.
Things went from bad to worse for Ederson after conceding the penalty kick. After lumbering on for a few minutes, the City number one was forced off with an injury picked by bringing Nunez to the ground in the box.
Ederson’s substitution coincided with Salah coming off the bench for Liverpool – two changes which completely changed the complexion of the game in the hosts’ favour.
As expected, Salah made an immediate impact, creating chances for his teammate Luis Diaz.