The Premier League returned from the international break with a real big game as Manchester City hosted Liverpool.
Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp had previously criticized the early start time of the match, as both teams have players who were in South America for the World Cup qualifiers just a few days ago. The match started at 12:30 local time.
The criticism may have had a point, because for example The BBC writesthat the level of the game did not match the previous meetings between the big clubs at any point.
Manchester City’s Norwegian star Erling Haaland broke the 50-goal mark in the Premier League with the smallest number of games of all time. Haaland scored the 1–0 goal in the 27th minute. The goal was preceded by Liverpool’s goalkeeper Alisson’s failed unlock.
Haaland has played 48 matches in the Premier League. Next on the list are the legends of the past years Andy Cole and Alan Shearerof which the former needed 65 games to score 50 league goals and the latter 66 matches.
Ruben Dias already celebrated the 2–0 goal, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul on Alisson.
Liverpool winger Trent Alexander-Arnold in this 80th minute, the ball from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom corner, the City keeper Ederson was powerless.
City controlled the ball 60 percent and took the shots 16–8 and the expected goal ratio was 1.38–0.55. In City’s camp, the 1-1 draw was seen as a lost opportunity for the championship.
In addition to the disallowed goal, Haaland had opportunities for additional hits. In addition, City’s 21-year-old winger Jeremy Doku was always dangerous and caused problems for Alexander-Arnold.
City is at the top of the league with 29 points, Liverpool has 28 points. Arsenal, who are on 27 points, can go top of the league later on Saturday when they face Brentford. The top of the Premier League is even, as Tottenham is three points behind City and Aston Villa four points behind.
Guardiola ranted and raged
Although the level of the game did not convince everyone, the fire of emotions was visible. After his equalizing goal, Alexander-Arnold brazenly waved in the direction of the City fans.
City head coach Pep Guardiola was hot throughout the match, and the fourth referee had to calm down the Catalan often. Guardiola also gestured in the direction of the home crowd and demanded more mecca for the stadium.
After the final whistle, Guardiola showed his frustration with the result and fiercely tackled the Liverpool forward By Darwin Nunez with. Klopp stepped in to pull Nunez off, and Liverpool’s assistant manager Pep Lijnders tried to calm Guardiola down.
After the match, Guardiola did not want to comment on the matter.
– Nothing happened. It’s not frustration. I am really satisfied. Another question, Guardiola said in front of the press According to Sky Sports.
When asked the same question, Klopp laughed. According to Klopp, he had no idea what the situation was about.
– I love them both, so I tried to calm the situation without knowing at all what happened, because I didn’t understand a word. I really think it was nothing special. It’s a feeling. Pep wants to win, we want to win. Neither won, so nobody’s really happy.
Alexander-Arnold admitted according to the BBC, that Liverpool is indeed satisfied with the point, because as a guest of City, they have hardly accumulated in recent years. However, according to Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool did not play particularly well.
Klopp was on the same lines and emphasized that a point was a success in this situation, but the keys to victory would have been there as well.
– I told the boys during the break that imagine what this would be like if we played well, Klopp grumbled.
Guardiola praised his team’s playing from the ground up. He was particularly pleased that City only conceded two chances against a team of Liverpool’s caliber, so the loss of the win hurt him deeply.
– The players are a bit shocked in the dressing room. They are sad because they know we had a chance. But this is football. Statistics are not calculated. Now I’m going to enjoy my bottle of wine with one point.
Banner episodes
During the match, a group of Everton fans flew a banner above City’s home stadium that read “Premier League = Corruption”.
The reason for Everton supporters’ frustration is the club’s heaviest penalty in the history of the Premier League. Everton received a ten-point penalty and dropped from last to last in the table.
Everton had admitted their excessive spending, but the club according to the release the punishment is unreasonable, and the club plans to appeal the decision. Everton manager Sean Dyche said Friday that the team is “angry about the disproportionate punishment.”
Many are now waiting to see what will happen to the giants of the series, Manchester City and Chelsea. City is being investigated for 115 violations, as the club is suspected, for example, of exaggerating its sponsorship income and drawing up secret reward agreements.
Owner of Chelsea between 2003 and 2022 Roman Abramovich appears to have transferred tens of millions to the club through his tax haven companies, and Chelsea is circumvented UEFA’s fair play regulations.
– Without knowing the Everton case in more detail, the point penalty seems like a severe violation of the economic rule. The decision confirms that if City and Chelsea are found guilty, the penalties could lead to relegation from the Premier League, downloaded a lawyer who previously advised City Stefan Borson.
Read more: Everton, who received the heaviest penalty in Premier League history, could lose more points – City and Chelsea threatened with relegation
Guardiola also took a stand on the matter before the Liverpool match. He pointed out that the situations of City and Everton cannot be compared. This is of course true, as Everton were accused of breaking the Financial Fair Play Regulations (FFP), while City are being investigated for other and more complex frauds.
In addition, another banner was seen above the stadium during the match between City and Liverpool. It read “UAE: Free Ahmed Mansoor“.
UAE referred to the United Arab Emirates. Ahmed Mansoor is a man who was sentenced to ten years in prison in the country for “defaming” his country. The banner was organized by the human rights organization Amnesty.
Mansoor was already arrested in 2011 as part of a group of activists who demanded political and economic reforms in his country. He was later pardoned, but arrested again in 2017. It was said that Mansoor had used his social media sites to “publish false information that harms the country’s image”.
City’s main owner, the sheik Mansoor is the Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and part of the Royal Family of the United Arab Emirates.
Director of Amnesty UK Sacha Deshmukh toldthat with their capture they hope City fans will join the campaign for Mansoor.
– Today’s celebration is meant to say: “Take your eyes off the field and look at the bigger picture.” A huge injustice has been done and Manchester City’s owners are the ones who can right the wrong.
You can see all the results of the Premier League day at this link and the standings here.