{"id":160979,"date":"2024-03-11T14:12:09","date_gmt":"2024-03-11T14:12:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2024\/03\/11\/x-reacts-as-liverpool-and-man-city-play-out-thrilling-draw-at-anfield\/"},"modified":"2024-03-11T14:12:09","modified_gmt":"2024-03-11T14:12:09","slug":"x-reacts-as-liverpool-and-man-city-play-out-thrilling-draw-at-anfield","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2024\/03\/11\/x-reacts-as-liverpool-and-man-city-play-out-thrilling-draw-at-anfield\/","title":{"rendered":"X reacts as Liverpool and Man City play out thrilling draw at Anfield \u2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

It\u2019s fair to say Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola\u2019s final Premier League clash lived up to the hype on Sunday, as their teams played out an enthralling game at Anfield.<\/strong><\/p>\n

An Alexis Mac Allister penalty early in the second half canceled out John Stones\u2019 first-half effort, ensuring the points were shared between the title rivals.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how social media reacted to the game.<\/p>\n

\n

Rather than the players who were starting the game, all of the pre-match talk was dominated by the absentees from Liverpool\u2019s lineup.<\/p>\n

Despite featuring on Thursday in the Europa League, Mohamed Salah wasn\u2019t deemed fit enough to start, while centre-back Ibrahima Konate\u2019s injury concern picked up in midweek meant he wasn\u2019t included in the matchday squad at all.<\/p>\n

Salah\u2019s absence from the starting XI received a particularly mixed reaction from Reds fans.<\/p>\n

\n

I\u2019m sorry, but Salah had to start today.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s been in training since Wednesday, played 20 minutes and looked great Thursday, and we don\u2019t have another PL game for 3 weeks. Rest him for the FA Cup next week if we have to.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s too big a game. I don\u2019t get that at all.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Laurie (@LFCLaurie) March 10, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

Salah not starting is not a surprise when he hasn\u2019t played a full 90 for 2 months and just recovered last week. No point risking him, despite how massive this game is.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Samuel (@SamueILFC) March 10, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

There was also some discontent about Konate being risked by Jurgen Klopp in Liverpool\u2019s expectedly comfortable win over Sparta Prague on Thursday, too.<\/p>\n

\n

Konate starting Thursday night was laughable<\/p>\n

\u2014 Sean (@SeanDOlfc) March 10, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

After an opening 20 minutes in which the injury-riddled Liverpool more than held their own against a full-strength Manchester City, the visitors\u2019 quality eventually told in the 23rd minute.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cCorner taken quickly\u2026JOHN STONES\u201d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d pic.twitter.com\/ptBa1iUF8H<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Deng\u2122 (@UTDDengv2) March 10, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

That is beautiful from Manchester City, that is outstanding from Kevin De Bruyne it\u2019s 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\u2019s just absolutely sensational.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Josh Bunting (@Buntingfootball) March 10, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

While Man City fans rejoiced, Liverpool fans were left aggrieved by the lack of VAR intervention in the goal.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

City would hold onto their lead throughout the remainder of the first half, with both sides missing a few half chances before the whistle.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Ake\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Game on.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Ederson\u2019s substitution coincided with Salah coming off the bench for Liverpool \u2013 two changes which completely changed the complexion of the game in the hosts\u2019 favour.<\/p>\n

As expected, Salah made an immediate impact, creating chances for his teammate Luis Diaz.<\/p>\n

<\/p><\/div>\n