Manchester City vs Liverpool live updates: Alexander-Arnold goal secures draw after Haaland sets Premier League record

Manchester City will want to fix that sharpish. Easier said than done, though…

Thursday, November 30: LASK (H), Europa League, 8pm GMT, 3pm ET

Liverpool are two points clear at the top of group E and could cement their place in the knockout stages with victory

Sunday, December 3: Fulham (H), Premier League, 2pm GMT, 9am ET

Pep Guardiola wasn’t being drawn on either of the game’s most contentious topics: Ruben Dias’ disallowed second-half goal and his apparent spat with Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez.

On the disallowed goal, he said:

“I didn’t watch it. I didn’t see it honestly. But after Newcastle vs Arsenal … I don’t know.”

And when pressed about his clash with Nunez, he said with a smile:

“Nothing happened.”

The Etihad was rather quiet today — something not helped by the early kick-off time — and, on Sky Sports, Pep Guardiola said he wanted to hear some more noise from City’s supporters.

“I wanted some more noise. It’s 12.30 so maybe they are not ready.

“But maybe we have to play better to encourage this.”

Pep Guardiola has just watched his side concede a late goal to draw at home with Liverpool. But the Catalan manager has said he is on cloud nine after his team’s performance.

“It was an excellent performance. It was really, really, really good. We always made the right decisions. Yes, we missed a bit of spark. But we conceded just two shots on target against Liverpool and that’s a big compliment to how we work.

“We know the quality Alexander-Arnold has and it was an exceptional goal.”

Haaland reaching 50 goals in just 48 games means he has broken the existing record for the fastest to a half century by a staggering 17 games.

The mark had been held since March 1995 by Manchester United’s Andy Cole, whose 50th goal came in 65 matches — with the Englishman reaching the milestone by scoring five times against Ipswich Town.

Kevin Phillips was the second-quickest (behind Haaland) of these to players to score 25 goals, but ended up 10th on the list.

Below are the trajectories of the 10 fastest players to 50 Premier League goals. Haaland has been out in front almost from the start and his sensational debut season left very little doubt that he would break Cole’s record.

Luis Diaz’s father was in the stands today to watch his son help his side secure an important 1-1 draw at Manchester City.

Luis Manuel Diaz Jimenez was kidnapped and held hostage by a guerilla group in Colombia before being released this month.

And Jurgen Klopp has spoken of how happy he is the Diaz family have been reunited ahead of Christmas.

“He’s here now and he will have more moments to share.

“I am happy for the whole family and that they are together. The club helped a lot. And the whole group reacted well.

“The family is here now which is cool, and it’s a good thing for Christmas time.”

Bernardo Silva may not be the Premier League’s best footballer, but he might be its most complete footballer.

Used almost everywhere by Pep Guardiola in recent seasons, from left-back to centre-forward, here Silva was playing in central midfield and doing what he does best – controlling the game. He received passes in tight spaces comfortably, and played some good penetrative passes into attack.

What Silva did more than anything else, however, was drifting to the left.

In that respect, Silva is essentially playing the role of Kevin De Bruyne, who thrives when doing something similar from the opposite flank. Julian Alvarez is De Bruyne’s direct replacement in terms of position, but Silva is stepping up in terms of role.

On Sky Germany, Jurgen Klopp was asked what prompted the post-match spat between Darwin Nunez and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.

The pair shared some heated words before being separated.

“There were some shouts (from the City bench) after the final corner. Some of our boys understood it and reacted.

“I didn’t understand much but I like them both a lot, so I stepped in.”

Diogo Jota was forced off with an injury in the second half of today’s game, while Alisson appeared to pull up with a muscular problem deep into injury time.

Jurgen Klopp was asked about both injuries immediately after the game. Here’s what he said.

“We lost Jota to a muscle injury and Ali felt something as well.

“We will have to see.”

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has just been interviewed on Sky Sports and sounds rather pleased with his day’s work.

“It is a really good moment. It’s a tough place to come. It’s no coincidence that they win so many home games. You have to be ready to suffer and you need more time to prepare properly for a game in these circumstances.

“I think if we played (better) we could have won. But we played okay. We caused them problems but our good moments didn’t feel that good to us. So we had to stretch ourselves and push ourselves and really give it a try. And we had to adapt slightly.”

There have been moments this season when Darwin Nunez has looked he might be settling into a groove, but he’s still erratic.

Whereas Erling Haaland is machine-like in his efficiency in front of goal, Nunez fluctuates between the sublime and the ridiculous — not just within the same game but sometimes within the same move.

Openings against Manchester City are scarce, so ruthlessness and composure are essential. We have seen those qualities from Nunez at times this season, most notably away to Newcastle United, but not reliably enough.

There’s a widespread assumption that at some point things are going to click into place and Nunez is going to become a world-beater, but it isn’t always easy to believe that. That unpredictability seems to be in-built.

Alisson Becker was culpable in two different ways for his concession of Erling Haaland’s opener. Not merely did he let the ball squirm under his hand and in, he’d given away the ball cheaply in the first place, attempting to thump a long ball downfield, but slicing it into the air.

Even before that, Alisson had twice looked nervous on the ball.

The three mistakes were all different. Tt was an unusually erratic performance from Liverpool’s No 1, who was also slightly fortunate that the referee awarded a free-kick and disallowed Ruben Dias’ goal after Alisson failed to claim a corner under relatively little pressure from Manuel Akanji.

By the end of the game he was clearly struggling with a leg injury. Not his day.

It might have felt that Trent Alexander-Arnold’s main job was to stop the tricky winger Jeremy Doku, but Klopp wants way more out of his key utility player these days.

In the hybrid role, where he combines work as a right-back with duties in the centre of midfield, Alexander-Arnold has to be a world-beater in two positions.

It was fitting that his cool finish earned Liverpool a well-earned point, then, as he showed his qualities at both ends of the pitch.

It’s those timely contributions that will define how successful he is in his new position, one he plays for both Liverpool and England now.

He also described his crucial equalising goal to the media.

“I got the ball from Darwin. I could sense that there were bodies and I tried to get it across goal.

“Thankfully it found the bottom corner and it’s one we needed. It was about getting over the line and getting that point.”

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Alexander-Arnold opened up on the tactical side of his new role.

“Their formation and the way they set up really challenged us. We regrouped at half-time and came out with a bit more of a game plan to press them. It’s difficult subconsciously when you play against Man City – you can’t really get tight to them or stand off them.

“There was potentially a game plan to stop me from getting the ball in midfield. I think Bernardo (Silva) was very close to me when I was pulling inside. It was about getting on the ball in different ways and getting us up the pitch. We did that especially well in the second half.”

The prospect of a proper Premier League title race is growing after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s second-half equaliser kept Liverpool in close touch with Manchester City at the top.

City took the lead on 27 minutes when Erling Haaland scored his 50th Premier League goal in just 48 games, taking him the mark 17 games faster than any other player.

Liverpool, watched from the stands by Luis Diaz’s rescued father, equalised with an equally fine finish from Trent Alexander-Arnold to keep the gap at the top at one point.

The match ended with a dispute between Darwin Nunez and Pep Guardiola but it was a rare flashpoint in an otherwise calm game. Below, Michael Cox, Oliver Kay, Gregg Evans and Jay Harris analyse the match.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has just been interviewed on Sky Sports. He has said that he doesn’t believe Liverpool played particularly well but that they will take the positives from their performance.

“To come here and get a point is a good result for us. It helps to instill the belief that, even when we don’t play well — against the reigning champions — but still get a point then you are doing something right.”

• Alisson: 5. Not his finest display and was fortunate not to concede a second.
• Alexander-Arnold: 8. Kept very busy by Doku but defended well and took his goal brilliantly.
• Matip: 5. Caught out by Haaland and a little slack in possession. Booked.
• Van Dijk: 6. Confident bringing the ball out from the back although was caught on one occasion.
• Tsimikas: 5. Looks vulnerable down Liverpool’s left.
• Szoboszlai: 6. Some very smart touches but didn’t influence much. Subbed.
• Mac Allister: 6. Lively but little by the way of creativity.
• Jones: 6. Squandered a couple of good attacking opportunities before being withdrawn.
• Salah: 7. Quiet by his standards but assisted Alexander-Arnold’s goal.
• Nunez: 6. Where to start?! A diamond in the rough. But he should have scored.
• Jota: 6. Fairly anonymous and was taken off injured.

Subs

• Gravenberch: 7. Impressed and helped to beef up Liverpool’s midfield.
• Diaz: 6. Very quiet.
• Gakpo: 6. Didn’t do too much.
• Endo: 5. Introduced late on.
• Elliott: 5. Ditto.

• Ederson: 7. Was impressive when called upon to deny Nunez.
• Walker: 7. Got forward well and solid in the air.
• Dias: 7. Composed in possession. Harshly denied what would have been City’s second goal.
• Ake: 8. Brought the ball out brilliantly for Haaland’s goal.
• Rodri: 6. Not as dominant as usual.
• Akanji: 6. Struggled a little in the complex hybrid role demanded of him.
• Foden: 6. Lively and peppered Alisson with shots but wasteful towards the end.
• Alvarez: 6. Kept fairly quiet by Liverpool’s defence.
• Bernardo Silva: 7. Busy and a few very nice touches to create chances.
• Doku: 7. Caused all sorts of problems and very lively but a touch wasteful.
• Haaland: 8. Took his goal brilliantly. A Premier League record-breaker.

That result leaves Manchester City top of the table, just a point ahead of Liverpool.

But Arsenal can (realistically) and Tottenham (mathematically) now overtake City this weekend.

Oasis’ Roll With It plays over the speakers as Pep Guardiola smiles while shaking Trent Alexander-Arnold’s hand.

Really, this will be a tale of City frustration. They were dominant for so much of the game but while it is 1-0, you’re never comfortable and so it proved.

A good game. Two great Premier League teams and it’s very good to see Liverpool with their mojo back. A draw is also the best result for the Premier League, as it keeps the title race really interesting.

Words exchanged between Darwin Nunez and Pep Guardiola after the final whistle.

Jurgen Klopp wraps his arms around his striker and takes him away from the situation.

Guardiola tried to get back towards Nunez to continue the heated debate, but Liverpool No 2 Lijnders told the City boss to back off.

That’s the ball game! A tight, taut, tense tussle. Yes, I love alliteration.

90+7 Man City 1-1 Liverpool

Uh oh. After it’s headed behind for a corner, Alisson pauses the game to go down and clutch his hamstring.

Klopp looks desperate. He’s already made all his subs so Alisson has to stay on!

He prepares for the corner… and it’s flicked on by Erling Haaland at the near post but beyond Nathan Ake at the back post!

That was begging to be tapped in.

90+6′ Man City 1-1 Liverpool

City fans have finally woken up and are roaring on their side in search of a late winner.

Phil Foden’s cross swings out of play, to jeers from the Liverpool fans and audible frustration from the home fans.

Trent Alexander-Arnold time-wasting with impunity, before Alisson is nearly robbed by Erling Haaland AGAIN.

Then, he scuffs ANOTHER clearance and pulls up in pain.

90+2′ Man City 1-1 Liverpool

Some more thoughts on that Trent goal, it really was a brilliantly clinical finish.

He proved he has that killer instinct in taking his opportunity. While striker Darwin Nunez dithered and dallied with his one big chance, Erling Haaland went right-left in double-quick time to score the opener for City.

Here, it was the reverse, left-right, getting the ball out of his feet and striking it early. Make sure you watch a replay tonight.

Wataru Endo is then booked for chopping down Doku. Fair.

90′ Man City 1-1 Liverpool

City have eight minutes to find a winner. Liverpool, too, I suppose, but they’re happy with a draw you’d feel.

Pep Guardiola is in the ear of the fourth official. He probably wanted 12.

88′ Man City 1-1 Liverpool

Haha, the saga continues. Alisson catches the resulting corner and is bumped into twice by Manuel Akanji, once before and once after grabbing the ball.

He is arguably pushed over the line, though he just about keeps the ball from crossing it, I think.

Would have been a foul if it did. Alisson irks the City fans by whingeing about it and taking the free-kick from 10 yards further forward.

Alisson has been rather weak when collecting high balls under pressure today. Expect other Premier League managers to target this in future games.

86′ Man City 1-1 Liverpool

Liverpool are all fuming as Chris Kavanagh books Joel Matip for bringing down a sprinting Jeremy Doku.

He did catch him on the calf, definite foul and definite booking.

No cause for complaint. The free kick is bent in but headed behind.

What a strike that is from Trent Alexander-Arnold – his first goal for the club since May and it’s a crucial one.

Brilliant technique to take a touch from Salah’s pass and unleash a shot beyond Ederson. “The Scouser in our team,” sing the jubilant away end. Sets up a thrilling finale here.

85′ Man City 1-1 Liverpool

Klopp shuffles his pack again, bringing on Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott for Alexis Mac Allister and Darwin Nunez.

All five subs made before City have made one.

83′ Man City 1-1 Liverpool

Cody Gakpo bundles into Manuel Akanji and gives away a free-kick in a promising position.

Julian Alvarez shoots but it’s well headed away by the wall. That looked like it was on target!

82′ Man City 1-1 Liverpool

Wow, out of nothing really. Mo Salah had it on the right wing and it really looked like City were numbered up and had the situation under control.

Salah fed Trent with a simple sideways pass and, as he stepped forward to the edge of the box, took a nice touch to set it in front of him. But if his first touch was good, his second was masterful.

Using that quality we know he has, he drilled it hard and low – so cleanly – into the bottom-left corner across a helpless Ederson.

He holds his fingers to his lips in front of the spewing home fans. Limbs in the Liverpool end.

Alexander-Arnold is a great player and that is a really great goal. Just don’t ask me what his best position is! I’ve given up trying to work it out.

81′ Man City 1-1 Liverpool

Trent Alexander-Arnold with a brilliant finish and Liverpool are level! Jurgen Klopp erupts!

And after scoring he just cannot resist shushing the crowd…

79′ Man City 1-0 Liverpool

Jeremy Doku is some player. Once again he rips past an opponent with consummate ease but Alisson saves after Erling Haaland nudges his cross towards goal.

But here we go…

77′ Man City 1-0 Liverpool

Hmm. Phil Foden chases after Luis Diaz, putting the pressure on, and seconds later is rolling on the floor in (apparent) agony.

Diaz did catch him in the face with a flailing arm, which will probably sting in the cold Manchester air.

It was an open palm though, and although I’m not convinced he didn’t mean it, not enough in it for a yellow I don’t think. VAR checked it and said all is fine.

It has already been said but it’s worth repeating: it’s great to see Luis Diaz out on the field watched on by his father from the stands.

75′ Man City 1-0 Liverpool

A bit surprising that the first yellow has come only 15 minutes from the end.

Darwin Nunez is shown the cheese after sprinting back 60 yards only to cynically trip Phil Foden.

Other than the Alisson ‘foul’, Chris Kavanagh has managed things pretty well today.

That said, there’s not been that much needle in the game really. I wonder if that is because the fans are a little more subdued because of the early kick-off. Maybe it’s just too soon after the international break.

72′ Man City 1-0 Liverpool

Mo Salah with a nice slide-rule pass down the right channel to Darwin Nunez, who bursts onto the ball… but his shot from a tight angle is well parried by Ederson.

From the resulting corner, he claims the aimless floated delivery. Not the first corner he’s plucked out of the sky.

Now confirmation of that change: Cody Gakpo on for Dominik Szoboszlai. An attacking change – that’s 4-2-4 for Liverpool now.

Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders calls Cody Gakpo over and gives him some orders. The Dutchman will be on shortly.

70′ Man City 1-0 Liverpool

City then swing in a free kick and Rodri is totally free but screws a header high and wide.

Great chance. But he was offside, it wouldn’t have counted.

The game ramping up to a frenetic pace now.

That looked like a goal to me. But goalkeepers always get the benefit of the doubt!

Everton’s banner wasn’t the only message flown across the Manchester skies today.

A banner requesting the release of a prominent activist in the United Arab Emirates was also flown over City’s Etihad Stadium during their Premier League match with Liverpool.

The banner — which read ‘UAE: Free Ahmed Mansoor’ — was organised by human rights group Amnesty International. Mansoor was jailed for 10 years in 2018 for allegedly ‘defaming’ the country.

City owner Sheikh Mansour is the UAE’s vice-president, deputy prime minister and part of the Emirati royal family. The light aircraft towing the banner circled the ground for approximately 20 minutes after kick-off on Saturday.

68′ Man City 1-0 Liverpool

The ball’s in the net after a Manchester City corner, but ref Chris Kavanagh gives a free kick for a perceived foul on Alisson. VAR will check this…

Replays show Manuel Akanji lightly gripped Alisson’s arm when the corner was bent in, then jumped beside him in an attempt to win it. Alisson flapped at it and allowed the ball through his grasp, where Ruben Dias tapped it in at the back post.

For me, it’s not a foul. Alisson just dropped it. Possibly you could say the pull on the arm constituted a foul and prevented Alisson from catching it cleanly. But there wasn’t that much in it really.

One of those where it doesn’t get overturned if it’s given as a goal on the field. City fans are frustrated with that and Pep Guardiola looks perplexed on the touchline. A controversial one if Liverpool get a draw…

63′ Man City 1-0 Liverpool

Waste! Haaland crosses from the right and Bernardo Silva ducks underneath it thinking Jeremy Doku is there, but he’s not.

Then Doku gets to the byline AGAIN and digs out a nice cross but it’s cleared. Rodri then shoots from the edge of the box, it’s blocked by Ryan Gravenberch and City plead with the ref for a penalty.

Replays show it hit his legs. Nowhere near his hand. Embarrassing to appeal with that ferocity, really, considering.

Erling Haaland’s goal against Liverpool was his 50th in the Premier League. He has smashed the record.

• Broke existing record by 17 games
• 49 goals from inside the box
• Scored against 20 of the 21 clubs he has played against – only Brentford kept him out
• Has 75 matches to break Alan Shearer’s quickest century record

Keep an eye out for Will Jeanes’ piece for The Athletic later tonight!

The plane paid for by Everton fans is flying over the Etihad with the banner ‘Premier League = corrupt’.

Jeremy Doku has been unstoppable in one vs one situations.

He reminds me of Adama Traore when carrying the ball, but with better end product.

I was surprised Klopp didn’t change things at the break, but finally the changes have arrived.

Jota just never got into the game and Diaz should add an extra spark on the left.

Gravenberch for Jones also makes sense in midfield. Next goal is massive here.

56′ Man City 1-0 Liverpool

He is human after all!

Trent Alexander-Arnold does well to get up above Phil Foden and nod away a teasing cross from the left… but it loops directly to Erling Haaland. Uh oh.

The striker tries to get over it but can only balloon it over the bar. He looks frustrated with himself but it was a very tough chance.

55′ Man City 1-0 Liverpool

Diogo Jota was limping after that challenge with Walker and he makes way for Luis Diaz.

In midfield, Curtis Jones, who faded after a neat start, is off for Ryan Gravenberch.

Can either sub introduce a bit of tempo and impetus?

52′ Man City 1-0 Liverpool

Fine counter from City! Diogo Jota is dispossessed by Kyle Walker and City suddenly have four-on-three in the Liverpool half with loads of space around them.

The ball is quickly shuffled across to Doku, who speeds past a ghostlike Alexis Mac Allister and lays it off to Julian Alvarez… but he sweeps a left-footed shot over. Didn’t get the right contact on it.

A misstep in technique, and Erling Haaland, who had peeled into space if Alvarez had seen him, throws his arms up questioningly.

48′ Man City 1-0 Liverpool

A second ago Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was almost literally hopping mad on the touchline there, giving Curtis Jones an earful after being caught out of position.

Now! Salah turns Nathan Ake with a nice in-and-out dribble but Manuel Akanji charges across and levers his body in the way to shepherd it out. City fans roar their approval and Akanji wins a high five from his team-mates.

Long way to go still though. You can never truly lock down the Egyptian.

47′ Man City 1-0 Liverpool

Within seconds of the restart, Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden are already linking up with cute back-heels.

They look confident and in the mood, City, enjoying their football. Joel Matip is suddenly about 20 yards away from Erling Haaland after stepping into midfield but Bernardo Silva can’t find him.

Got to stick to him there. But Matip does well to sell Haaland a dummy and keep the ball a minute later. Interesting battle.

46′ Man City 1-0 Liverpool

We are back into the action at the Etihad.

No changes from either manager. Yet.

Haaland reaching 50 goals in just 48 games means he has broken the existing record for the fastest to a half-century by 17 games.

If he had not scored against Liverpool he would still have had until roughly mid-March to score the one goal needed to break the record.

Incredible numbers.

Thanks to Opta for this map of Alisson’s passes.

The one intercepted by Phil Foden is in black.

It was another wayward pass to Nathan Ake that led to the defining goal at the break.

Jack Grealish will have been sat at home with his hands in front of his eyes every time he saw Jeremy Doku on the ball. Doku was really impressive in that first half. Not a great time for Grealish to fall ill!

• Alisson: 5. Not his finest display and was fortunate not to gift Foden a goal.
• Alexander-Arnold: 6. Kept very busy by the in-form Doku.
• Matip: 5. Caught out by Haaland and a little slack in possession.
• Van Dijk: 6. Confident bringing the ball out from the back although was caught on one occasion.
• Tsimikas: 5. Looks vulnerable down Liverpool’s left.
• Szoboszlai: 6. Some very smart touches but hasn’t influenced much.
• Mac Allister: 6. Lively but little by the way of creativity.
• Jones: 6. Has squandered a couple of good attacking opportunities.
• Salah: 6. Liverpool’s best and most dangerous player even if he has been quiet by his standards.
• Nunez: 5. Where to start?! A diamond in the rough. But he should have opened the scoring.
• Jota: 6. Has done his best and run hard but not many opportunities.

Klopp spoke yesterday about needing to make life “uncomfortable” for City if Liverpool wanted to get anything from this game and they haven’t done that often enough in this first half.

Far too many times when City have played it out from the back with relative ease and then cut through the visitors.

Liverpool have had their moments on the counter but not been able to sustain anything with careless errors letting them down.

Diogo Jota with the fewest touches in this game so far. Just 10.

Perhaps a switch for Luis Diaz at the break might give Liverpool a different attacking threat.

He also showed his frustration at Darwin Nunez being offside in the first half, flicking his arm up in annoyance.

If you look at the money spent on the two central strikes, Haaland and Nunez, you can see how much better value City got while the former plays for them.

But resale value is an entirely different matter as we all know how complex that Haaland transfer was!

• Ederson: 6. Not too much to do but flapped at a low cross before the break.
• Walker: 7. Got forward well and solid in the air.
• Dias: 7. Has looked very composed in possession.
• Ake: 8. Brought the ball out brilliantly for the only goal of the game so far.
• Rodri: 7. A strong start and has already made two tackles in the middle of the park.
• Akanji: 6. Has struggled a little in the complex hybrid role demanded of him.
• Foden: 7. Very lively and has peppered Alisson with shots.
• Alvarez: 6. Kept fairly quiet by Liverpool’s defence.
• Bernardo Silva: 8. Busy and a few very nice touches to create chances.
• Doku: 8. Has caused all sorts of problems. Really good half.
• Haaland: 8. Took his goal brilliantly. A Premier League record-breaker.

And that’s the interval.

They file down the tunnel, Erling Haaland clapping Bernardo Silva on the back for a key tackle on Trent just before the whistle.

Good work so far from City. Liverpool have largely been OK, threatening on the break, but they were punished for a mistake and Jurgen Klopp has a tough team-talk up now.

45′ Man City 1-0 Liverpool

Ederson then is called into action as Darwin Nunez cleverly dummies a cross.

With Jota lurking, the Brazilian flicks a hand out to stop it sneaking in, and Manuel Akanji shovels it clear.

That’s the break!

44′ Man City 1-0 Liverpool

A tale of two ‘keepers. Ederson, who has been solid so far, pings a gorgeous pass 40 yards forward to Bernardo Silva, skimming the turf, the topspin seeing it kiss the grass on its way to the Portuguese.

It’s worked out to Phil Foden, who cuts in from the right wing and lashes it left-footed towards the bottom-right corner… but Alisson saves well. Really good stop.

42′ Man City 1-0 Liverpool

Bernardo Silva, the little magician, spins out of trouble outside his own box from a Liverpool set piece and releases Jeremy Doku, around 30 yards from his own goal.

Doku explodes into life and zooms forward with the force and fire of a thousand tsunamis, leaving helpless Liverpool defenders in his wake. It’s a three on two and he does well to find Julian Alvarez, though the pass is understandably not perfect given he was running at full pace.

The Argentine scuffs it, a sort of cross-shot that is really neither. Haaland looks annoyed.

40′ Man City 1-0 Liverpool

City fans air their annoyance as Trent Alexander-Arnold brings down Jeremy Doku with a strong (but fair) challenge.

They break and Mo Salah finds Darwin Nunez, who is eventually flagged offside, very late.

If Liverpool had scored there City would have been looking back in anger, contrary to the advice of one of their favourite sons.

Favourite Oasis song, by the way? I love Champagne Supernova and Slide Away.

What a first half from Manchester City! Erling Haaland gets the goal but I have been most impressed by Jeremy Doku. He has gone past his defender more often in this game than Grealish has managed all season!

All managers love players that offer something different and Doku has that ability to slow a defender down before putting on the afterburners to get beyond them.

He is a good quality crosser, too. Haaland will enjoy playing with him, that’s for sure.

33′ Man City 1-0 Liverpool

Careful, Manuel Akanji! The Swiss gives it away really carelessly and Szoboszlai can run at the City defence.

He slips in Darwin Nunez, who makes the sliding run, but the angle is tight and Ederson closes him down well to push it wide.

Akanji raises his hand in apology.

Andy Cole, Alan Shearer, Ruud van Nistelrooy. Not bad company.

As mentioned, Erling Haaland with that goal became the fastest player BY FAR to reach 50 Premier League goals, in just 48 matches.

17 games quicker than any other player in Premier League history. Incredible.

Alisson had a difficult week on international duty, with Brazil beaten by Colombia and Argentina, and he has looked uncharacteristically edgy here.

He got away with a poor kick when he gifted the ball to Foden on 11 minutes, but Haaland wasn’t going to let him get away with a second mis-kick.

It was clear Alisson was trying to release Salah as he has done on a few occasions in the past, but he got it all wrong.

That’s a hammer blow for Liverpool. All came from Alisson slicing his kick when he could have released Salah on the counter.

Really poor from the Brazilian. He got away with a bad error earlier but this time he’s punished by Haaland.

Erling Haaland hadn’t had a scoring chance before the goal, but he looks so hungry, chasing down Trent Alexander-Arnold on seven minutes and then Joel Matip and Dominik Szoboszlai.

He was also the one closing down Curtis Jones on two occasions, the first of them in Liverpool’s penalty area.

28′ Man City 1-0 Liverpool

It was a poor clearance from Alisson, who has looked shaky so far today.

He skewed it straight to Nathan Ake, who went on a slaloming dribble past two or three half-hearted challenges.

Ake slipped it forward to Haaland, who was in an absolute ocean of space. Matip was nowhere and you can’t give him that sort of room.

The man who puts the ‘king’ in ‘Viking’ took a perfect touch to control and then fired it hard and low across Alisson into the bottom-right corner. The Brazilian got a hand to it but could not keep it out, such was the power of the strike.

26′ Man City 1-0 Liverpool

Who else?! Erling Haaland becomes the quickest man in Premier League history to reach 50 goals.

Darwin Nunez is important to Liverpool’s chances today, but in one poor touch there he showed he is still a long way behind Mohamed Salah’s level of quality.

Salah would have had that chance under control in one touch before getting his shot away. But Nunez looks busy already and that’s important, as Liverpool’s best chances will come on the break today.

Liverpool’s driving runs from centre-back are causing a surprise problem. Both Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk have shown bravery to break through the City midfield at speed and it has caught the hosts out.

What we’re seeing from this new-look Liverpool side is a different way of attacking. Gone are the days of dominating down the flanks.

They’re a narrow and compact side now and most of the attacking play comes through central positions.

Liverpool are experiencing trouble playing the ball out from the back.

Alisson, Matip and van Dijk have all given possession away cheaply in their own half in the last few minutes. They need to find a way to build a better connection between midfield and defence.

22′ Man City 0-0 Liverpool

Knocking on the door, City. Doku is double-marked but a one-two leaves him opposite Trent Alexander-Arnold. He breezes past him like he’s not even there and puts in a spiteful low cross which Alisson does well to get a left hand on, cleverly aiming it behind for a corner rather than back into danger.

A fine Liverpool press sees Kostas Tsimikas nearly nick it off an ice-cool Ederson, before Phil Foden can’t keep it in play after a wayward pass.

Pep chews his lip as Jurgen Klopp barks his approval.

18′ Man City 0-0 Liverpool

It really feels like City are working it to Jeremy Doku at every opportunity. He dummies Trent Alexander-Arnold beautifully, twisting this way and that, and Trent has to step back five yards, off balance.

Watch out there! Curtis Jones overplays it in his own six-yard box, giving Alisson a hospital pass which he desperately pokes away from Haaland, who was centimetres away of winning the ball basically on the Liverpool goal-line.

Tsimikas then does really well to escape Phil Foden, they play it forward and Szoboszlai drives into the box, but his well-struck left-footed effort is blocked. This game is opening up now…

15′ Man City 0-0 Liverpool

Nunez then has another decent chance in the space of a minute. Curtis Jones, who’s been one of the best players on the pitch so far, really bright and ambitious on the ball, drives through midfield.

Dominik Szoboszlai takes it off his toe and slides it through to Nunez, who looks like he is just onside behind Nathan Ake. But as he runs into the box he struggles to get it out of his feet and Ruben Dias recovers well to get a foot in.

Needs to be more decisive there.

13′ Man City 0-0 Liverpool

Don’t think I’ve even mentioned Mo Salah’s name yet! But he does well to win a throw off Nathan Ake, who will stick to him like glue today.

Liverpool now enjoying their first real spell of possession in City territory… and it leads to the first chance! They are patient in possession, Joel Matip bursts forward through midfield and lays it out to Mo Salah.

He bends in a wicked cross and Ederson has to paw out Nunez’ header acrobatically. From the follow-up, Diogo Jota rose high but Kyle Walker rose higher and buys the free-kick by pretending he has a head injury.

What a let-off that is for Liverpool.

Alisson made a complete hash of things but Foden fails to make him pay. It’s been a cagey start here. Typical 12:30pm KO straight after the international break stuff so far. Even the atmosphere is flat.

I’ve been looking forward to this and the team news makes it more interesting.

What a bad day for Jack Grealish to be ill, but it will allow us all a good look to see if Jeremy Doku is the real deal.

I’m also excited to see Erling Haaland up against an in-form Virgil van Dijk.

10′ Man City 0-0 Liverpool

City fans now singing a less-than-complimentary song about Steven Gerrard in the background… but they gasp in excitement as Alisson gives it away.

The Brazilian turns past Haaland to escape the press, but is then over-confident and is lucky to escape without conceding as he fires a poor, poor pass straight at Phil Foden inside the box.

Foden controls it nicely but is in a rush to get his shot away and gets no power behind it. Alisson smothers it low.

4′ Man City 0-0 Liverpool

Alisson just about shovels it to Virgil van Dijk under pressure from Erling Haaland, leading to whistles from the City supporters.

But Liverpool fans are roused by Darwin Nunez winning it back and Joel Matip, 32, outpacing Jeremy Doku on a powerful run down the right.

Signs of how City can hurt Liverpool, though – as Liverpool double-mark Doku, who cuts inside, then City create a two-on-one against Trent in the space he vacated. They waste it, though.

2′ Man City 0-0 Liverpool

Curtis Jones pressed Ederson really hard from the kick-off – perhaps put under unnecessary pressure by Silva’s long back-pass from the start. But City played their way out of trouble, and found Jeremy Doku.

Trent backed off, and Joel Matip cleared his cross. It was worked back out to the Belgian, who flicked it to Bernardo Silva. He tiptoed to the byline and put in an awkward low cross, but Matip cleared again.

Then Alexis Mac Allister is nudged in the air by Silva, who concedes the free-kick.

1′ Man City 0-0 Liverpool

And we’re off! Chris Kavanagh’s whistle gets us underway in Manchester and this clash of titans is underway.

Bernardo Silva all the way back to Ederson aaaaand it’s live!

A wide grin from Jurgen Klopp as Pep Guardiola engages Jurgen Klopp in a firm pre-match handshake.

Blue Moon – underrated tune, by the way – ringing out over the speakers as both bosses settle in their respective dugouts, looking thoughtful.

And if they overtake City, it will be the first time they sit atop the Premier League in 18 months. Wow.