Manchester City – Liverpool

1. Join us for commentary as Man City try to close the gap at the top against Liverpool.

2. <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/1229/robertomancini_275x155.jpg"><br>Roberto Mancini and Manchester City are playing catch-up.

3. It is crunch time for the chasing pack, writes John Brewin. Read his preview <a href="http://espnfc.com/uk/en/preview/345634/preview.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739" target="_blank">here</a>.

4. Liverpool team: Reina, Johnson, Enrique, Agger, Carragher, Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson, Downing, Suarez, Sturridge.

5. Man City team: Hart, Zabaleta , Nastasic, Lescott, Clichy, Milner, Garcia, Barry, Silva, Dzeko, Aguero.

6. Manchester United's narrow win at Fulham last night has increased the pressure on defending champions City still further. They are ten points behind their neighbours, and really need to win this one.

7. Liverpool, though, will have something to say about that - and they have been pepped up by the Suarez-Sturridge combination. An intriguing afternoon in prospect at the Etihad.

8. The players are in the tunnel - kick-off is five minutes away.

9. Here they come - and in front of a packed house at the Etihad on a big day for City.

10. Anthony Taylor, the referee, is with the captains in the centre circle. Seconds until the start as Blue Moon booms over the tannoy.

11. 1'

    Liverpool get the game under way. Enrique on the ball in his first start for a fair old while.

12. 1'

    City get the ball back, and Gareth Barry makes an early burst forward. Silva can shoot from the edge of the area...

13. 2'

    It's a fine strike on the half-volley and Reina tips it over. Corner...

14. 2'

    That comes to nothing and Liverpool try to break through Downing. Suarez blocks a clearance and the ball finds its way back to Downing - who is offside.

15. 3'

    Reina kicks long downfield after the ball is ushered back to him. Sturridge thinks he has been fouled on halfway - he wants a free-kick, but doesn't get one.

16. 4'

    City come forward from inside their own half. Barry and Zabaleta link, but the final ball forward is out for a Liverpool throw.

17. 5'

    Then it goes straight through to Joe Hart in the City goal. Aguero pressures Johnson, who does well and wins a throw-in off the City man.

18. 6'

    Zabaleta heads clear powerfully as Liverpool play the ball forward, but possession is soon back with City.

19. 7'

    Not for long, though - Henderson picks it up and is clipped by Zabaleta in midfield. Free-kick to Liverpool.

20. 7'

    Careless from Agger, who plays a backpass he didn't really need to and gifts Manchester City a corner.

21. 8'

    It's neatly worked on the left. Javi Garcia gets his head to it, but that effort drifts over the top.

22. 9'

    Dzeko flicks on from a Clichy ball forward, but there's nobody in support of him and that's back to Liverpool with no alarm caused.

23. 9'

    Mancini points on the sidelines, urging his team forward. He, and they, were frustrated at Loftus Road in midweek as two points went astray.

24. 10'

    Long by Lescott. Back by Liverpool. City play it hesitantly back to Hart through Nastasic, and the goalkeeper has to blast hurriedly away.

25. 11'

    Silva tries to jink his way down the left, but it breaks down and Enrique gallops forward as Liverpool look to counter. It breaks down, though.

26. 12'

    City are playing the ball around in midfield, probing for an opening. Dzeko is the target of the eventual ball forward, but he is offside.

27. 13'

    Not much in the way of shape to these early stages, but suddenly the ball is played forward to Sturridge, who is denied by a good challenge as he finds space inside the area.

28. 14'

    It's a corner for Liverpool, and Carragher rumbles forward for this one.

29. 15'

    The header out is a good one, and Suarez can't pick up the pieces as the ball is played back in.

30. 16'

    Johnson fouls Silva after the Spaniard brings the ball down with a great first touch.

31. 16'

    The ball is played deep towards Milner, who can't get a header in, and again Liverpool break neatly.

32. 17'

    Lescott does well as Suarez again looks to make something happen for the visitors, winning possession and bringing the ball away.

33. 17'

    Suarez is soon back again, though, beating Clichy and winning a corner.

34. 17'

    Agger gets a header in and Carragher tries to flick it away from Hart, but City survive.

35. 18'

    Liverpool are looking the better side at the moment, but are forced to concede a throw as City move down their right.

36. 18'

    There's no real rhythm to the home side's play at the moment. Agger heads a hopeful cross towards Dzeko firmly away.

37. 18'

    Silva chips towards Dzeko inside the area. He uses his arm to control it, and there was no danger of the referee missing that one.

38. 19'

    A few mumbles from the stands as City misplace another pass and Sturridge can break...

39. 20'

    He finds a cutback to Suarez from the left, but the Uruguayan slices the ball and it's nowhere near Joe Hart's goal.

40. 21'

    That pass was coming at him with speed, and City soon get themselves into trouble. Lescott takes too long to get the ball away and it's blocked, ricocheting back to Suarez who steers a first-time shot wide.

41. 22'

    Milner at the other end: Enrique, though, deals with the situation well. Milner looks as though he thinks he should have had a free-kick, but there was nothing wrong with that.

42. 22'

    Aguero shows marvellous control to take an awkward ball in his stride down the right. Again, though, the Liverpool covering is excellent.

43. 23'

    But they're in trouble here - Milner is worked into space down the left...

44. 23'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL: He crosses low to Edin Djeko, who is left with the easiest of tap-ins. Against the run of play, Manchester City have a vital lead.</b>

45. 24'

    The visitors really don't deserve to be behind, but the movement to free Milner was classy.

46. 25'

    Sturridge takes possession on the corner of the area and wins a free-kick in a dangerous crossing position. Can Liverpool respond almost immediately?

47. 26'

    Downing floats it to Henderson who mis-hits his volley horribly. The ball goes back to Downing, who is then miles offside.

48. 27'

    Henderson piles in on Barry, who is flattened midway inside the Liverpool half. Free-kick to City.

49. 27'

    Aguero crosses and it's a rather panicky clearance from Johnson, more up than away, but Liverpool get away with it.

50. 28'

    Henderson comes forward for Liverpool, but is forced to turn and play the ball back into his own half.

51. 29'

    Dzeko feels he is fouled, the referee doesn't and Liverpool come forward. Whistles for the referee from the crowd as play goes on with Dzeko down...

52. 29'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL: And the controversy deepens as Sturridge gets the ball on the edge of the box and fires in a great shot. Hart well beaten - Liverpool level.</b>

53. 30'

    The City fans are furious. Dzeko thought he was fouled by Agger, but he was not badly injured and the referee chose to play on.

54. 31'

    That's the first goal conceded by City in 2013 and, on the balance of play, parity is what the visitors have deserved so far.

55. 31'

    Henderson nearly plays his team into trouble with a short pass back towards his own area, but Liverpool sort that particular problem out.

56. 32'

    Suarez and Sturridge combine in the left for Liverpool. Suarez wins a corner down that side...

57. 33'

    Gerrard will take. Liverpool the more cohesive team at the moment.

58. 34'

    The corner, though, comes to nothing. Ten minutes or so until the break in what has been a pretty decent game so far.

59. 34'

    Aguero tries to flick the ball out to the left, but it doesn't work out. There's no real crispness to what City are doing at the moment, and they have created little.

60. 35'

    Lucas and Enrique combine and the latter crosses. City clear and Henderson clatters in to Milner again.

61. 36'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> That's a booking for the Liverpool midfielder. Hard to argue with that, really.

62. 37'

    Suarez runs at the City defence again, but the threat is snuffed out this time. Then Johnson crosses, but floats the ball over the top and out for a goal-kick.

63. 38'

    Down to the other end, and good skill from Aguero wins the home side a corner. Can they make something happen here?

64. 38'

    No, they can't. The delivery is poor and the ball floats behind for a Liverpool goal-kick.

65. 39'

    City playing the ball across the back. Forward it goes, and Aguero touches it wide to the left. Liverpool concede the throw.

66. 40'

    Five minutes until the break. Manchester United won't be unhappy with the way this one is going.

67. 40'

    Liverpool are pressing really well, forcing City to go backwards until the ball end up with Hart. Milner moves forward, but Silva then misplaces his pass and there are more audible signs of frustration from the stands.

68. 41'

    Downfield by Reina. Won well by Lescott and Dzeko tries to keep possession as the ball comes forward.

69. 42'

    It's to no avail, though. Then a bit of attempted slick inter-passing on the edge of the area breaks down and Liverpool bring it away once again.

70. 43'

    Reina goes long downfield as the ball is ushered back to him by Agger. Milner wins it back, but Johnson picks off his attempted pass.

71. 44'

    Dear oh dear. Zabaleta doesn't look up as he plays a backpass with Hart coming out for the same ball. It goes narrowly wide. Corner for Liverpool...

72. 45'

    Hart punches, but that moment was indicative of City's all-round uncertain performance. Suarez thumps an effort, and the 'keeper holds on.

73. 45'

    Two minutes of added time at the end of the first half.

74. 45'

    City will have to be much better than this after the break if they are to get the three-point haul they need.

75. 45'

    A tangle between Downing and Milner on the City right, but no harm done to either. Henderson makes one last move forward for the visitors pre-interval.

76. 45'

    <b>It comes to nothing, and that's half-time. A few boos from the home fans for the officials, but City have not played well so far and that's their main problem. A good, bright performance by Liverpool, and 1-1 is the least they deserve.</b>

77. 45'

    The players are back out at the Etihad - kick-off for the second half is moments away.

78. 46'

    City, who need to up their tempo, get us under way again and look long towards Dzeko.

79. 46'

    He's crowded out, but City come again and a Milner cross goes all the way through the Liverpool area without a touch from either defender or attacker.

80. 46'

    Then Lucas gives possession away cheaply, and City have a corner. Good start to the half by them.

81. 47'

    It comes to nothing. Liverpool look for Sturridge on the left, and he wins a throw.

82. 48'

    Sturridge has had a fine game, quite apart from the goal, and produces some good holding play in midfield to enable Suarez to get forward. He's fouled, and this is a free-kick about 35 yards out and pretty central.

83. 49'

    Gerrard and Suarez consider their options...

84. 49'

    Suarez decides his option is to shoot. The ball hits the wall - Suarez doesn't believe they were far away enough - and goes for a corner.

85. 50'

    Good football from Liverpool. The ball is played to Suarez, who lays it back to Gerrard. His shot from the edge of the area is scuffed, and City block.

86. 51'

    Suarez almost bursts away from Nastasic, and Liverpool win another corner. They've started the second half in the same confident way in which they played the first.

87. 51'

    City head clear but Gerrard crosses and Suarez volleys back towards Carragher. Lescott, under pressure, concedes another corner.

88. 52'

    Hart punches this time, but Liverpool are very much on top here. Another cross comes in, but Downing heads wide.

89. 53'

    Suarez frees Sturridge, who goes to ground in the area very easily as Lescott challenges. There looks to be no contact. No penalty, says the referee.

90. 53'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Sturridge is booked for a clear dive, and looks rather sheepish.

91. 53'

    Downing crosses and City are at full stretch to get themselves any time at all. You would think Liverpool were the home side.

92. 54'

    Another shot by Sturridge from the edge of the area. This one is blocked, but City's loose passing scuppers their efforts to break.

93. 55'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Nastasic off, Kolarov on as Roberto Mancini makes a change.

94. 55'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Carragher thunder into a challenge on Aguero. He gets a yellow, City get a free-kick some 35 yards out.

95. 56'

    Can City make something happen from this set-piece?

96. 58'

    It deflects to Barry. Zabaleta gets it back to him and he crosses - Reina claims confidently.

97. 58'

    Coming up to the hour and there's nearly a mishap for Carragher, who stumbles but recovers his balance with a couple of City players closing in.

98. 59'

    Forward comes Silva, winning a corner. The home fans find their voices.

99. 59'

    Good defending once again by Agger as he clears Liverpool's lines.

100. 60'

     Enrique, at the other end, crosses. it's cleared. Agger challenges Aguero and wins the ball, but the City man is down.

101. 61'

     He's getting a spot of treatment, but should be OK.

102. 62'

     It looks as though City may soon be turning to Carlos Tevez, who is warming up.

103. 62'

     Room on the left for Suarez, who makes a jinking run but gets his attempted shot all wrong, skewing it across goal.

104. 62'

     Aguero is fine, but City are still making nervy mistakes, giving the ball away in midfield again.

105. 63'

     Downing is the beneficiary on this occasion, and Sturridge feeds the ball back to Enrique. Henderson plays it in, it's blocked and City break.

106. 64'

     Aguero gets into the area but then slips, stumbles and falls to gift possession back to Liverpool.

107. 65'

     Another City cross, and Barry loops a header goalwards, but over the top.

108. 66'

     Liverpool still looking very assured, passing with crispness and confidence. They build through Downing, but the final ball in is too high for Suarez.

109. 66'

     Sturridge finds Henderson. Lucas plays a poor pass but Gerrard picks up possession. The home fans want more from their players - the Liverpool skipper had so much time there.

110. 67'

     Milner has worked hard for City. He doggedly wins and keeps possession and then crosses dangerously but nobody can apply a finishing touch.

111. 68'

     Then, as another cross comes in, Agger produces another good header clear.

112. 69'

     Hart has the ball as we head towards the final 20 minutes of the afternoon's Premier League football. From his kick, City come forward through Milner once again.

113. 70'

     Again, Liverpool's pressure forces them back - to groans from the stands.

114. 71'

     Kolarov tries to get possession but it breaks down, and Javi Garcia fouls Suarez as Liverpool come forward.

115. 71'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> It's a booking for the City man, and a pretty inevitable one for that kind of challenge.

116. 72'

     Roberto Mancini is cutting a frustrated figure on the touchline. This is looking very much looking like more points dropped.

117. 73'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL: And it could be all points dropped. Gerrard controls a clearance outside the area, chesting down and firing a quite brilliant half-volley beyond Hart. A stunning goal, and Liverpool - deservedly - lead at the Emirates.</b>

118. 73'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Maicon on, David Silva off. Can City respond?

119. 74'

     What a goal by Gerrard, and what a challenge now for Manchester City. They way they have played, and the way Liverpool have played, suggests Mancini's men face a huge challenge to get even a point now.

120. 74'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Skrtel is on, Enrique off as Liverpool make a switch.

121. 75'

     Free-kick to Liverpool, out on the left. Gerrard looks like the man to take this one...

122. 76'

     ...in it goes, and it only just eludes Skrtel who, with any sort of touch on that, would surely have wrapped this match up.

123. 78'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL: Out of nothing, brilliance from Aguero. On the right, he gets to the ball almost on the byline as Reina challenges. He gets past Reina and, from an impossible angle, curls home an implausible and amazing equaliser. It's 2-2! </b>

124. 78'

     The most unbelievable finish. It looked as though City would need something out of the ordinary to get back into this. They certainly got it.

125. 78'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Gerrard is booked for a challenge, and City have a dangerous free-kick about 30 yards out.

126. 79'

     Milner wanted to take a quick free-kick, but the referee didn't allow him to. Kolarov will try this one instead...

127. 80'

     He blasts it into the wall and Liverpool clear. Ten minutes to go and, just as it was between these two teams at Anfield back in the season's early days, it's 2-1.

128. 81'

     Suarez can get away on the right of the area and can square the ball here...

129. 82'

     ...it's blocked and falls to Gerrard, who thumps in another shot. This time, though, City get bodies in the way.

130. 83'

     A breathless finish in prospect here - can City find a late winner to close the gap to seven points? Or can Liverpool regain the lead?

131. 84'

     Liverpool have a throw on halfway. It goes forward and they win another, this one about level with the edge of the City area and on the left.

132. 85'

     Johnson has a go, but that's up, away and into the fans behind the goal.

133. 86'

     Barry and Milner link down the City left. The latter crosses, not very well, but it's deflected behind for a corner.

134. 87'

     The delivery is dangerous and Maicon attacks it, but he is only able to steer his header over.

135. 87'

     Patient from City, as Barry finds Maicon coming forward on the right. It's a throw to City, deep inside the Liverpool half.

136. 87'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Before they can take it, Nasri comes on for Barry, who has had an industrious game.

137. 88'

     Another fine run by Aguero takes him into the Liverpool area and the ball is stabbed behind for a corner.

138. 89'

     Kolarov takes, Gerrard clears. Another corner...

139. 89'

     Reina punches and, when the ball comes back in, claims confidently.

140. 89'

     Now Johnson, as Liverpool attack. He is fouled, and that will be a free-kick. Forward comes Downing on the right and he feeds Sturridge on the edge of the box.

141. 90'

     He fires in a shot and Hart saves. The rebound is cleared for a Liverpool corner.

142. 90'

     City head clear, and there will be five minutes of added time.

143. 90'

     Skrtel gets a foot in as Aguero threatens to weave off on another run. Excellent challenge by the Liverpool man.

144. 90'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Off goes the outstanding Sturridge, and on comes Joe Allen, in a late Liverpool change.

145. 90'

     A bit of head tennis in midfield and the ball comes down with Garcia and City. Out it goes to Maicon on the right...

146. 90'

     Aguero and Maicon link, and only a late block prevents the ball reaching Dzeko. Another City corner.

147. 90'

     The corner is too long and over everyone - Mancini looks infuriated. Two minutes of a thriller left.

148. 90'

     Free-kick to Liverpool, midway inside the City half. Gerrard officiating here.

149. 90'

     City head clear, but Liverpool keep possession. There is less than a minute left as Agger, of all people, crosses. There's nobody up there to attack it, though.

150. 90'

     Lescott prevents Suarez from getting a shot in from an angle - but only at the expense of what will surely be the game's last corner.

151. 90'

     In it comes - City clear, and that must surely be that.

152. 90'

     <b>Indeed it is - a cracker of a game ends all square thanks to an extraordinary Aguero equaliser. Not the result that City wanted, and they are nine points behind United at the top of the table after a tremendous afternoon at the Etihad.</b>

Sağlayıcının güncel lig tablosudur; maçın oynandığı tarihteki sıralama olmayabilir.