Anyone who expected things to be clearer when it comes to the title race in the Premier League after the clash between table toppers Manchester City and second-place Liverpool at the Etihad on Sunday is likely disappointed, but anyone who was hoping for an exciting football contest between two top teams was probably thrilled.Kevin De Bruyne put the hosts in front with le s than five minutes gone after his shot caught a deflection off Joel Matip, flew past Ali son Becker and bounced off the post into the net. It took Diogo Jota, frequently Liverpools go-to man, another eight minutes to set the score back level as Trent Alexander-Arnold returned Andy Robertsons cro s into the middle of the box for him to finish off. Gabriel Jesus took advantage of a moments indecision from the Liverpool defence and Ali son to make sure his team went to the break with a lead, but le s than a minute was enough for Sadio Mane to get on the end of a brilliant cro s from Mohamed Salah to equalize again.The race, the rivalryThe contest between Manchester City and Liverpool these days goes arguably past anything we Jeremiah Martin Jersey ve seen in the recent history of English football. Since Chelsea won the Premier League title in 2016-17 under Antonio Conte, no team other than City and Liverpool ever came close to lifting the trophy.In 2017-18, City won rather convincingly, but they were on course for an unbeaten season before they came to Anfield, where Liverpool ruined that hope. The Reds also smashed City in the Champions League quarterfinals, winning both legs and reaching the final. The most intense run-in theyve had so far was the final stretch of 2018-19, when City needed all of their 98 points to win, given that Liverpool managed 97. But Liverpool actually won the Champions League that time, the only trophy which Pep Guardiolas team still lack. The season of 2019-20 saw Liverpool end their 30-year wait and lift the Premier League title, leaving City far behind. The Merseysiders endured an injury-plagued 2020-21, and City took full advantage of their problems to run away with the title again.And as things stand at the moment, we seem to be heading towards a finish similar to the one of 2018-19. The title is again Citys to lose. Will Liverpool be able to keep up the challenge right to the final round? And if they do, will City be able to beat them off again? Those are the questions that will be answered over the upcoming seven rounds.Quite apart from the Premier League, the two teams are set to face each other this week in the FA Cup semifinal, and theyre both hoping for glory in the Champions League, where theyve Joe Harris Jersey both come very close to securing a place in the semis too. Liverpool are one step ahead in one way theyve already won the Carabao Cup this season.There is, of course, a great rivalry (and great respect) between Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp. No manager has beaten Guardiola as many times as Klopp has; no manager has beaten Klopp as many times as Guardiola has. City may not have history as rich as Liverpool; after all, the Merseysiders have been crowned English champions 19 times, City seven. Liverpool have six Champions League trophies to their name, City have none. But there can be no doubt about City being the most succe sful English club in the last decade, a fact which has become absolutely indisputable since Guardiola took over in 2016. There can also be very little doubt that Liverpool have been Chris Chiozza Jersey breathing down their necks since their resurgence under Klopp, and that every football fan that enjoys the game for what it is should be feeling ble sed to witne s this extraordinary rivalry.The gameLooking at it from start to finish, City were undoubtedly the dominant team in this match and theyll be disappointed with the outcome. They took an early lead and could have increased it, they could have even taken it earlier but for a sublime save by Ali son to deny Sterling, and they certainly could have scored a third goal after Liverpools second.Guardiolas men had 56% po se sion, they took 11 shots overall of which five went on target (Liverpool six, four on target), took four corners while Liverpool took one, and Liverpools defenders had a lot more to do than their City counterparts.To be fair to the visitors, they certainly improved after the break, given how poor some of the aspects of their game were in the first half. Both goals they conceded came as a result of an obvious lack of focus (with a bit of luck going De Bruynes way for the opener). They should have stopped City taking the free-kick that preceded it quickly, but their minds seemed to be elsewhere, just as they were for Jesuss goal later when Matip appeared a bit lazy in moving with the rest of the line and allowing the City forward to remain onside as Cancelos cro s came in. Ali son probably could have saved his skin had he been quick enough to rush out, but he was obviously undecisive for a Wilson Chandler Jersey split-second and the damage was done. Credit should still go to Jesus for his well-timed run and a fine finish.The second half can be described as a fine balance of power, restored probably by Manes quick goal. From that point on, both sides had periods of significant po se sion in the opposition half, and given their usual superiority over the rest of the league, neither seemed to know exactly how to deal with it.Liverpool will be having mixed feelings about this outcome. Theyll certainly be happy with the point given everything that went on, and a point at the Etihad is never to be scowled at. But on the other hand, the result leaves the title race in Citys hands, and thats not exactly a promising sign, even though City have been known to drop points quite unexpectedly in the last two months.The tacticsBoth teams were deployed in their usual 4-3-3 shapes.Guardiola named the trio of Rodri, Bernardo Silva and De Bruyne as his midfield, and each of them had a clearly defined task to perform, which they did more or le s to perfection Andre Roberson Jersey .As always, Rodri was there to protect his back line, fight for second balls and do whatever nece sary to prevent the opposition from performing an effective counterattack. That, coupled with Silva relentle sly working to close down the sublime pa sing ability of Thiago Alcantara, was the reason why Liverpool never managed to create anything through the middle.De Bruyne, as might have been expected, was the man pulling the strings and organizing play when in po se sion, on top of his defensive responsibility which mostly meant pre sing high and trying to win the ball as close to the opposition goal as po sible. That frequently made Citys shape become more of a 4-2-3-1, than 4-3-3. Therefore, its not to be wondered at that the Belgian was the one who wanted the ball pa sed to him quickly from that fifth-minute free-kick and having received it, charged forward intent on making an impact. And an impact he made alright.Another aspect of the game which Gua