Major Talking Points As Manchester City And Liverpool Makes England Wait For 2021/2022 Premier League Champion.
The purported Premier League title decider between current champions Manchester City and major contenders Liverpool FC did not produce a champion as expected, but it surely did not fail to live up to expectations today, April 10, 2022.
Although the match ended up in a two-all stalemate at the Etihad Stadium, home of Manchester City, it was not lacking in intense action moments and excitement from the blast of the whistle till the game ended with spoils deservedly shared.
City flew out of the blocks, and in just 5 minutes, inspirational talisman and captain Kevin De Bruyne picked up a pass after a quick free-kick and unleashed a fierce drive from 20 yards out, which took a wicked deflection off Joel Matip and flew past a helpless Alison in the Liverpool goal.
Advantage City and the Reds were flustered. They were making many uncharacteristic mistakes at the back due to the insane intensity with which Guardiola’s men flew at them.
The tide was to level out almost immediately after that goal, though, and the hugely talented midfield and attack line of Liverpool started getting into the game and influencing proceedings. The result was an almost instant response to level out the game at one goal apiece by the 12th minute of the match.
After a terrible and panicky clearance of a set-piece by the City defense line, the ball fell to left wing-back Andy Robertson who sent a beautiful cross into the box, which City’s defense again failed to deal with. Trent Alexander-Arnold collected the ball in the box, squared off to Diogo Jota in the center of City’s goal area, and, of course, the in-form striker was not going to miss from there. Game on at 1-1!
De Bruyne came close to restoring City’s lewd in the 28th minute, though, after some excellent work down the left flank by defender Joao Cancelo saw the ball end up at his feet with time to turn and have a shot on goal in the Liverpool box. Unfortunately, his shot could only find the outside of the right post.
Cancelo was to eventually turn provider for City’s second goal in the 37th minute as he sent in another delightful cross into the box for striker Gabriel Jesus to calmly stroke over an onrushing Alison. This chance had also come after Liverpool’s defense too, had made a mess of clearing their lines from a City corner kick.
From all indications, it was starting to look like this would be a match decided by chances created from defensive blunders. If one was to consider how both teams’ defense had been super solid all season before today’s game, it becomes more evident that the Premier League title riding on the result of the match was way too heavy on both sets of players’ minds.
The action ended in the first half with City taking their one-goal lead into the half-time break, and it was indeed all to play for in the second half.
Roles were reversed from the blast of the whistle to signal the start of the second half, though, as it took Liverpool less than one minute into the half to get back on level terms!
The city had flown out of the blocks at them in the first half, but this time, it was Liverpool’s turn to pile the pressure upon The Citizens. Trent won the ball back on the halfway line and released Mo’ Salah, who controlled the ball before unleashing a glorious through the pass, which found strike partner Sadio Mane in the box.
The Senegalese still had a bit to do, though. Still, he took his chance with remarkable precision and ruthlessness, and the game was once again open for anyone to claim all three points and potentially the 2021/2022 Premier League title.
Raheem Sterling thought he had put City back in the lead for the third time in the game in the 63rd minute after running on to a delightful pass from Phil Foden and slotted it into the net between Alison’s legs. An immediate VAR review ended his joy and City’s celebration, though, and the match was back on level terms.
Both teams kept going at each other until the end of the match, but none could find the decisive third goal that would have practically crowned England’s 2022/2022 Champions.
City substitute Riyad Mahrez came closest to finding the winner with a superb freekick that beat the Liverpool wall but couldn’t beat the goal post as it rolled off the left upright in the 91st minute.
This encounter revealed a few things for football lovers and neutrals to reflect on, and we would like to share them with you here.
(1) Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have chipped off the same block – they love to attack! This game was as thrilling and memorable as it was because both managers had no idea what it means to try to sit back and soak up pressure in a football game.
They are also both very appreciative of a good game too, as evidenced in the warm embrace and firm handshakes they shared when the final whistle went off.
(2) Liverpool is an excellently well-coached team, and they will certainly be pushing City to the end of the season for this year’s title.
The way they recovered from the early onslaught from City in the first half, then came back in the second to give the Citizens a taste of their medicine was not only very commendable but splendid to experience!
Fans of both clubs may have been disappointed with the stalemate today, but every neutral indeed finds this result very satisfying because it ensures that the excitement in the English Premier League is not ending any time soon!
