Manchester City vs Liverpool: historically, not the biggest game of English football, but, currently, very much so. Both sides have reached new heights in the Premier League over the last two season’s, jostling for the top spot and establishing themselves as a class above the rest; a class which was very much on show at the Etihad as the game ended level despite De Bruyne being handed the chance to find the winner from the penalty spot.
Liverpool, however, out of the two sides, will welcome the point more after Kevin De Bruyne failed to convert from the spot following Gabriel Jesus’ initial equaliser to cancel out Mohamed Salah’s earlier penalty.
De Bruyne Fails to Make Liverpool Pay Penalty in Score Draw
A Story of Two Penalties
When it comes to reliability from the spot, there are not many better to turn to than Mohamed Salah. The so-called Egyptian King is slowly but surely becoming the penalty king with each stage seemingly set for a crucial spot-kick. And the game at the Etihad was no different. The free-scoring, nerveless, winger stepped up to convert the opening goal once more for the Reds to deal Manchester City the early blow.
It was the perfect opening to what Jurgen Klopp would have been hoping to have been a faultless affair on a wet, and rather miserable night in Manchester. Yet, against Pep Guardiola, perfection is perhaps the most difficult objective to complete, as Klopp, himself, knows all too well. And, like the chess master he is, Guardiola soon manoeuvered his side level in one swift advantageous exploitation of the tiniest of Liverpool mistakes.
VAR Attempts to Make Difference Again with Awarding of De Bruyne Penalty
Jesus’ goal, coming as a result of one wrong move to the side from Georginio Wijnaldum, allowing De Bruyne to make the key pass, set the tone for a rather tense affair for the rest of the game. In all honesty, it looked increasingly likely that an individual error, or convenient use of technology, would need to occur for there to be a winning goal.
As we know all too well now, too, when a game needs that added drama, VAR soon reintroduces itself to all of us on watching fans who are left waiting for yet more controversy. And, as the ball struck Joe Gomez’ hand following the attempted block, VAR entered proceedings to add the drama it so often does. It shouldn’t be the difference-maker, but it so often is in games when it simply does not need to be.
On this occasion, the penalty, harshly awarded, was mercifully skewed by the so often, so clinical De Bruyne to keep Liverpool’s precious point intact. On so many other occasions, the technology will prove to be the difference when, in fact, the football being played on the pitch itself should be the focus. Instead, games are being left in the balance by the technology and the referee’s seeming urge to rule out a goal; to cancel any form of joy in the modern game.
Joe Gomez: Stepping up in Virgil van Dijk’s Absence
Many questions were asked of Joe Gomez when Virgil van Dijk received the news of his season-ending injury; many believed those questions would be left without the correct answers, too. Yet, up stepped Joe Gomez and, ever since what was meant to be a season-defining injury within their ranks, up stepped the Liverpool squad, ready to defend the thrown.
The Englishman is improving with each week, overcoming a new obstacle as it crosses his path, even next to new centre-back, to take a new-look Liverpool back four to solidity once more and a crucial point against Manchester City.
Instead of allowing van Dijk’s absence to have a negative impact, Gomez is using it as a stepping stone to becoming the world-class defender we all know he is capable of becoming, especially after recent, dominant showings.
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