Late Trent Alexander-Arnold goal ends Erling Haaland’s 50-goal party

In a thrilling match between Liverpool and Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, Erling Haaland made history by becoming the quickest player ever to reach 50 goals in the Premier League. However, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s late goal ensured a 1-1 draw for Liverpool.

Haaland made his mark in the 27th minute when he received a pass from Nathan Ake and skillfully placed a low shot into the bottom corner, taking advantage of a mistake made by Liverpool’s goalkeeper, Alisson. This goal not only equalized the game but also surpassed Andrew Cole’s previous record of 50 top-flight goals in 65 matches, accomplishing the remarkable feat in just 48 games. Liverpool had multiple opportunities in the first half, but Darwin Nunez was unable to convert them into goals, including a well-defended header by Ederson. In the second half, City had better chances, but it was Alexander-Arnold who amazed the home crowd by scoring a brilliant low shot into the far corner. This goal allowed Liverpool to secure a draw.

As a result, City was unable to match Sunderland’s record from the 1890s of 24 consecutive home wins in all competitions in the English top-flight. They are currently maintaining a one-point lead over Liverpool, who are in second place, with the remaining matches of the weekend still to be played.

In their upcoming matches, City will first compete against RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League, and then they will host Tottenham on Sunday. On the other hand, Liverpool will be playing against LASK in the UEFA Europa League before welcoming Fulham to Anfield on Sunday.

The noteworthy aspect of this match is the emergence of Liverpool 2.0 as a formidable force. There have been suggestions that the revamped midfield of the Merseysiders has the potential to compete for titles this season, and this game truly put their capabilities to the test. Despite City possibly thinking they should have scored more goals before Alexander-Arnold’s equalizing goal, the match was evenly fought, with Liverpool defending effectively and keeping up with the Treble winners for extended periods of time.

In a clash between the top two teams, Jurgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool, will be more satisfied than his counterpart. Once again, his team had to recover from a losing position while playing as the visiting side against a City team that had been invincible at the Etihad Stadium in 2023. This outcome will greatly uplift the Reds and strengthen their belief in their ability to accomplish something remarkable this season. Liverpool’s position in the rankings might be subject to change depending on the outcomes of other matches in this round, but they should feel proud of their performance so far this season. Despite facing their most challenging away game, they have only suffered one loss in the 13 games played.

Jeremy Doku, representing Manchester City, stood out as the standout player of the match. The talented Belgian winger once again showcased his skills and posed a constant threat on the left side, troubling Alexander-Arnold throughout the entire game. It’s no wonder that he has already become a beloved figure among the fans at the Etihad.

Evaluation of players: Manchester City’s players, namely Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Rodri, Bernardo, Doku, Foden, Alvarez, and Haaland, performed well, with ratings ranging from 6 to 8. On the other hand, Liverpool’s players, including Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Jones, Salah, Nunez, and Jota, had ratings between 5 and 7. Diaz, Gravenberch, and Gakpo all received a rating of 6, while Elliott and Endo’s performances were not applicable.

Key moments of the match:
In the 16th minute, there was an opportunity for Liverpool as Nunez’s header from Salah’s cross was saved by Ederson.
In the 27th minute, Manchester City took the lead with a goal from Haaland, assisted by Ake who capitalized on Alisson’s error. Haaland scored with a well-placed shot into the far corner.
In the 52nd minute, Manchester City had another chance. Alvarez fails to capitalize on a fantastic chance just 15 yards away from the goal following Doku’s impressive performance on the wing.
In the 69th minute, Manchester City’s goal is disallowed! Dias scores from close range, but VAR cancels it out because Akanji’s arm makes contact with Alisson. The score remains 1-0 in favor of City.
At the 72nd minute, Liverpool gets an opportunity! Nunez takes a shot, but Ederson manages to save it after a clever pass by Salah.
In the 79th minute, Manchester City gets a chance! Doku outmaneuvers Matip and sets up Haaland, whose shot is excellently blocked inside the six-yard box. In the 80th minute, Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool scores an impressive goal from an 18-yard distance after receiving a pass from Salah, equalizing the score to 1-1 against Manchester City. Later, in the 90th minute with additional time of 8 minutes, Haaland of Manchester City has an opportunity but fails to direct the corner kick towards the goalpost.

All in all, the match was thrilling as it showcased the skills of both elite teams. Liverpool can derive immense assurance from their remarkable performance.