A Point & Goal Each In Etihad Thriller

Sports - Football - Premier League - MCFC 1:1 LFC

Manchester City and Liverpool fought out a pulsating draw at the Etihad, sharing a goal and point each in the race to stay in the top four for Champions League qualification.

It could have been 5-5 after end-to-end stuff, with plenty of talking points, errors, chances, misses, sitters, controversies, everything given by both sides and referee Michael Oliver not making many friends.

Click here to read my full ByTheMin live match coverage.

James Milner had given the visitors the lead from the spot not long after the interval after Roberto Firmino was brought down in the box by Gael Clichy with a high boot.

It was the Reds captain's 450th career league appearance, netting his seventh penalty in the Premier League this season, only Steven Gerrard has scored more for Liverpool in a Premier League season (= 10 in 2013/14).

But non-other than Sergio Agüero levelled the score, making no mistake of beating wrong-sided defender Ragnar Klavan to Kevin De Bruyne's nice cross in from the right, smashing in the equaliser with just over 20 minutes to go.

The Argentine striker has scored in each and every of his five Premier League home games for City against Liverpool.

The game finished just as frantic as it started, a mad first half full of chances missed.

Both keepers were kept busy and made some strong saves, Simon Mignolet denying Leroy Sane, David Silva and Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho missing golden chances, whilst Willy Caballero kept out a surprisingly attacking Joel Matip, Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana at the other end.

Somehow it stayed goalless at the break, it was definitely the keepers' half.

Both De Bruyne and Agüero put chances wide late on, whilst Lallana missed the biggest sitter right in front of goal with just ten minutes to go.

But it was not to be for either side, the draw keeping City in third and Liverpool in fourth, giving Spurs some breathing apace in second, whilst United climb to fifth. Chelsea stay pretty comfy at the top.

The game was not perfect but great entertainment with a lot of pace, power, energy and chances. And it is a fair result after all the ifs and buts.

Liverpool have now recorded more points in ten games against the top six (20) than in ten games against the bottom six (19).

It was just as entertaining to watch both coaches in their technical areas, loud, active, very involved to say the least.

Both managers showed contrasting post-match reactions though, Reds boss Jürgen Klopp more disappointed with the result whilst Sky Blues' Pep Guardiola called it "one of the happiest days of his career".

The German won the previous five meetings between the two, including a penalty shootout, more than any other manager against the Spaniard, so, maybe that explains the different takes on the match.

Neither will like the international break disrupting their plans, Liverpool hosting Everton next whilst City will travel to Arsenal on April the 1st.

Man City Goal: Agüero 69'.

Liverpool Goal: Milner pen 51'.

Man City Team: 13 Caballero; 25 Fernandinho, 24 Stones, 30 Otamendi, 22 Clichy (booked 50'), 42 Yaya Toure (booked 22') (3 Sagna 65'), 19 Sane (6 Fernando 83'), 17 De Bruyne, 21 Silva (booked 52'), 7 Sterling, 10 Agüero. 4-1-4-1
Subs not used: 1 Bravo, 9 Nolito, 11 Kolarov, 72 Iheanacho, 75 A. Garcia.

Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet, 2 Clyne, 32 Matip (booked 43'), 17 Klavan, 7 Milner, 23 Can, 5 Wijnaldum, 20 Lallana, 19 Mané (booked 88'), 10 Coutinho (27 Origi 73'), 11 Firmino (booked 16') (21 Lucas 89').
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 18 Moreno, 66 Alexander-Arnold, 58 Woodburn, 6 Lovren.

HT & FT Match Stats: MCFC-LFC
Score: 0-0 & 1-1
Possession: 55%-45% & 60%-40%
Shots: 4-8 & 13-13
On target: 1-2 & 3-4
Corners: 5-5 & 9-8
Fouls: 8-3 & 14-7
Bookings: 1-2 & 3-3

Referee: Michael Oliver
Man of the match: David Silva
Ground: Etihad Stadium
Attendance: 54,449

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats taken from the BBC match report and SFR live coverage.