Trent Alexander-Arnold's expertly taken finish earned Liverpool a hard-fought point in a tight battle of the Premier League's top two at the Etihad.
2023/2024 Premier League
1-1
Match Report
Trent Alexander-Arnold cancelled out Erling Haaland’s 50th Premier League goal as Liverpool grabbed a point against champions and title rivals Manchester City on Saturday.
The England international struck 10 minutes from the end of a tight encounter at the Etihad Stadium after Haaland’s landmark strike looked like extending City’s record home winning run.
City had won their previous 23 games on home turf in all competitions, a running dating back to a visit from Everton on New Year’s Eve last December.
Alexander-Arnold’s late equaliser also spared the blushes of goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who had a day to forget having gifted Haaland his opener and committed several other errors.
Haaland had shown no mercy as he netted in the 27th minute, reaching his half-century of goals in the competition in just his 48th appearance, a new record.
Alisson, who was in goal for Brazil in their controversial game against Argentina in Rio on Wednesday, looked sluggish from the start.
He presented Phil Foden with an early opportunity when he gave the ball away but escaped as the England midfielder shot tamely.
At the other end, Ederson palmed away a Darwin Nunez header but Alisson had another worrying moment when he dithered on a back pass and had to scramble clear under pressure from Haaland.
Haaland made sure he was punished when he blundered again.
Firstly Alisson slipped as he attempted to launch the ball upfield and found only Nathan Ake, who charged through some weak challenges to feed Haaland.
The Norwegian scuffed his shot slightly but it was still too powerful for Alisson, whose weak hand to could not prevent it finding the bottom corner.
Nunez hit the side-netting from a tight angle as Liverpool responded but the visitors were unable to consistently trouble City.
The champions threatened again before the break but this time Alisson did well to push away a low effort from Foden.
ERLING HAALAND!!!!
The quickest player to 50 Premier League goals pic.twitter.com/AKeda0OBcL
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 25, 2023
City went close again after the restart when Julian Alvarez spurned the chance by blazing over after good work by Jeremy Doku.
Liverpool struggled to muster a meaningful threat with Virgil Van Dijk’s header from a corner not troubling Ederson.
Alisson was given a major reprieve after another howler. The Brazilian spilled the ball from a corner under little obvious pressure and Ruben Dias poked in but the goal was disallowed for a foul by Manuel Akanji.
Liverpool made the most of the let-off to equalise on 80 minutes with Alexander-Arnold’s fine strike.
"ALEXANDER-ARNOLD HAS PINNED ONE IN FOR LIVERPOOL!" pic.twitter.com/5lD0lhhYpt
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 25, 2023
Mohamed Salah laid off on the edge of the box and the England international took a touch before drilling a shot across goal into the bottom corner. He celebrated by putting a finger to his lips in front of the City fans.
City applied plenty of late pressure with Alisson, who appeared injured, struggling to clear his lines.
Haaland almost grabbed a winner in the eighth and final minute of stoppage time but his glancing header flew narrowly wide.
Match Events
0' KICK-OFF! Who can win this match?
11' CLOSE! Foden’s shot saved by Alisson!
15' What a save from Ederson!
27' GOAL! Man City 1-0 Liverpool (Haaland)
32' CLOSE! Doku’s shot wide out
35' CLOSE! Darwin misses a golden chance!
44' AGAIN! Foden’s shot saved by Alisson！
53' Álvarez fires his shot into the sky
69' Foul! Ruben goal disallowed
72' AGAIN! What a save from Ederson!
75' Yellow Card! Darwin Núñez booked
80' GOAL! Man City 1-1 Liverpool (Alexander-Arnold)
86' Yellow Card! Matip booked
Line-ups
Man City XI: Walker, Ake, Ederson, Ruben Dias, Bernardo, Akanji, Rodri, Haaland, Foden, Julián Álvarez, Jérémy Doku
Subs: Carson, Stefan Ortega, Stones, Kalvin Phillips, Sergio Gómez, Josko Gvardiol, Oscar Bobb, Rico Lewis
Liverpool XI: Matip, Alisson, Salah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Jota, Alexander-Arnold, Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Darwin Núñez, Curtis Jones
Subs: W. Endo, Joe Gomez, Kelleher, Konate, Cody Gakpo, Luis Díaz, Gravenberch, Elliott, Jarell Quansah