Excitement, friendliness and quality From the first minute to the last, the 2-2 draw between leaders Manchester City and second-placed Liverpool on Sunday showed why the English Premier League is considered the strongest football competition in the world.
The result means that the struggle for the title remains open, as coach Pep Guardiola's team leads the standings by one point from the sons of Jurgen Klopp, and few will bet that the race will not continue until the last breath, with 7 matches remaining.
But even without the added excitement of the summit clash, the match at Al Ittihad Stadium contained all the elements of entertainment for the spectator during the 90 minutes.
Fans around the world are drawn to the Premier League by the abundance of international stars, whether players or coaches outside the lines, and this match brought together the best elements ever.
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Belgian Kevin De Bruyne, the City star - the most integrated midfielder in the world - showed his strength and decisive touch to put his team ahead in the fifth minute, and after the break, guest striker Mohamed Salah passed a wonderful ball to Sadio Mane to ensure the sharing of points.
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Among the local players, City's Phil Foden demonstrated his mastery of ball control and dribbling skills, while Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold set up a goal for Diogo Jota to equalize 1-1 with a stunning move and awareness before Gabriel Jesus put the hosts ahead again.
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My plans contradict
Tactically, the match witnessed a contradiction between Guardiola's commitment to possession through short passes on the one hand, and direct play and the pressing style of Klopp on the other.
But the match did not go through with this scenario completely, as City started the meeting with high pressure and great energy, which is the method in which his opponent is famous, launching fierce attacks that Liverpool found it difficult to deal with.
Despite that, the visiting team adhered to its duties and did not exaggerate the defense or be satisfied with the role of the chaser, but was always looking for spaces between the lines of City.
The roles were not typical for two teams that dominated the league in the last 4 seasons.
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Helped by the hard work, fighting spirit and determination of both teams are traditional traits of English football that could have easily disappeared in the era of European players and coaches.
The confrontation was a mixture of characteristics that characterized English football for a long time, namely ferocity, high speed and offensive play, and added to it the ideas of foreign coaches and the capabilities of international players from the elite, which drives fans around the world to love the English Premier League.
A warm hug between Guardiola and Klopp đź«‚ #Premier League #Liverpool_Manchester_City https://t.co/4iePiBLNK8
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) April 10, 2022
Neither team wanted a draw, and the result was a stunning display that prompted even the most conservative analysts to sing praises to his splendor.
"I was impressed by the desire of all the players at the highest level to keep fighting for victory until the end," said Roy Keane, a former Manchester United midfielder and analyst for Sky Sports.
"A team did not dominate for long periods, and the confrontation was very equal on both sides. Liverpool showed their character in the second half, but City got dangerous chances, and this is a big warning to all of us about what the game means."
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Al Ittihad Stadium was on fire
Al Ittihad Stadium may not be famous for its spirited atmosphere, but it was ablaze for most of the match, and the fans of both teams played the required role with the knowledge that the outcome could turn upside down at any moment.
Guardiola, who was as enthusiastic as his counterpart Klopp outside the lines, enjoyed this atmosphere.
"I think it was a fun match for fans around the world," he said. "You want to be a coach for this kind of match."
Even the opportunity that Riyad Mahrez missed at the last minute did not disturb him.
"There is nothing I regret. Players can waste as many chances as they want. This is positive and this is football."
Klopp, who returned to the field 20 minutes after the final whistle to greet the visiting fans, was equally enthusiastic.
"It was an extraordinary match," he said. "Two heavyweights are battling it out. It's crazy. The match. It's a completely different level."