Man City just walked out of the Anfield cauldron with a point. It wasn't pretty. Honestly, by the end of it, Pep Guardiola looked like he’d aged five years in ninety minutes. If you’re looking for a recap of the Manchester City last game, you’re essentially looking at a tale of two very different halves that might just decide where the Premier League trophy sits come May. It ended 1-1, but that scoreline barely scratches the surface of the chaos.
Kevin De Bruyne’s face said it all when he got subbed off. He was fuming. You don't often see him lose his cool with Pep on the touchline, but that’s what this fixture does to people. It’s high-stakes. It’s loud. It’s exhausting.
The Set-Piece Genius That Silenced the Kop
Early on, City looked like they were going to cruise. John Stones scoring from a corner isn't exactly a shocker, but the way it happened was pure training-ground filth. Kevin De Bruyne whipped a low, near-post ball that caught the entire Liverpool defense napping. Seriously, Darwin Nuñez was just standing there. Stones didn't even have to jump; he just poked it in.
That’s the thing about this City side. They don't just beat you with 700 passes anymore. They beat you because Carlos Vicens, their set-piece coach, found a microscopic flaw in your zonal marking. For the first twenty-five minutes, it felt like City were playing keep-away. Rodri was doing Rodri things—basically acting as a human metronome in the middle of the pitch. He never loses the ball. It’s actually kind of annoying to watch if you’re a neutral.
But then the atmosphere shifted.
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The Turning Point: Ederson’s Moment of Madness
Everything changed because of one short backpass and a split-second decision. Nathan Aké, who is usually incredibly reliable, left a ball a bit short. Darwin Nuñez, who runs like his life depends on it, pounced. Ederson came flying out.
Crunch. Penalty.
Alexis Mac Allister tucked it away with zero hesitation. But the real story wasn't the goal; it was the fact that Ederson got injured in the process. Bringing on Stefan Ortega in a game of this magnitude is a massive ask. Most keepers would crumble under the pressure of the Anfield road end. Ortega, though? He was surprisingly ice-cold. He made a couple of saves against Luis Díaz that quite frankly saved City’s season.
Díaz was a nightmare for Kyle Walker. You don't see many players outpace Walker, but Díaz was rinsing him for fun in that second half. He missed two absolute sitters, which is the only reason we aren't talking about a City defeat.
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Tactical Tweaks and the De Bruyne Substitution
Let’s talk about the substitution that had everyone on social media losing their minds. Taking off De Bruyne for Mateo Kovačić felt like a "white flag" move to some fans, but Pep was clearly trying to regain control. The game had turned into a basketball match. End to end. Pure transition. City doesn't want that. They want a slow, suffocating rhythm.
Kovačić brought some calmness. He’s basically a ball-retention specialist. While he doesn't have the "killer pass" of KDB, he stopped the bleeding. Phil Foden almost won it late on—hit the bar after a weird deflection—and Jeremy Doku hit the post in the dying minutes. It was that close.
The Controversy Nobody Can Agree On
We have to mention the Doku challenge on Mac Allister in the final seconds. Doku’s foot was high. It caught Mac Allister in the ribs. In any other part of the pitch, that’s a foul. In the box, in the 98th minute? Michael Oliver said no. VAR concurred.
Jurgen Klopp was understandably livid. Pep was just relieved.
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If you look at the Expected Goals (xG) from the Manchester City last game, Liverpool actually edged it. They had the better chances in the second half. City survived. And in a title race where Arsenal is also breathing down everyone's necks, surviving Anfield is often as good as a win.
Why This Result Changes the Title Race
Historically, City finishes seasons like a steamroller. They usually win 12 games in a row and pull away. But this year feels different. The squad looks a little thinner. Rodri is playing every single minute because, frankly, they look lost without him.
The defense is also showing some cracks. Transition defense used to be their superpower, but Liverpool found holes. If City is going to win a fourth consecutive title, they need to figure out how to handle teams that press them this high without Ederson’s long-range distribution, should his injury be serious.
What you should watch for next:
- Injury Updates: Keep a close eye on the medical reports for Ederson. Ortega is a great backup, but Ederson starts the attacks. His absence changes how City builds from the back.
- The Run-In: City has a slightly "easier" run-on paper than Arsenal, but they still have to face top-six opposition.
- Foden’s Central Role: Expect Phil Foden to move back into the "10" role more often if De Bruyne’s fitness is managed carefully. He’s more effective there than on the wing.
- Squad Rotation: Pep is going to have to trust the bench more. Matheus Nunes and Oscar Bobb need minutes to keep the starters fresh for the Champions League.
The title isn't decided yet. Not even close. But after that draw, the margin for error has basically vanished. Every game now is a final.
To really understand where City goes from here, look at their upcoming home fixtures. They need to turn the Etihad into a fortress again because dropping points at home is no longer an option. Keep an eye on the recovery of Jack Grealish as well; his ability to "kill" the tempo of a game by winning fouls is exactly what City lacked in the chaotic second half at Anfield. Ensuring the midfield doesn't get overrun in transition will be the priority for the coaching staff in training this week.