Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool! All the action as it happened

Welcome to the Etihad Stadium, where Manchester City take on Liverpool at 4.30pm. FFT are here to bring you all the latest. We're expecting team news in just over 20 minutes.

Of course, City's clash with Liverpool isn't the only match in the Premier League today…

Leicester City 2-0 Crystal Palace
Brentford 1-0 West Ham United
Norwich City 1-0 Burnley

Who makes it into a Manchester City vs Liverpool combined XI?

We've put our necks on the line with our say… it was difficult enough just to choose a keeper, let alone a whole team.

Read more here

Quiz! Can you guess 50 correct answers in our Liverpool or Manchester City quiz?

There's plenty that binds Liverpool and City and plenty that separates them too. Can you tell us which of these players have played for which side?

Test yourself with the quiz

Elsewhere in the Premier League…

Brentford have pulled two goals clear of West Ham while at the King Power Stadium, it's Leicester 2-1 Crystal Palace.

The teams are in

Not too many shocks in terms of the line-ups, here. 

Manchester City have gone full strength from the goalkeeper to the midfield, minus the loss of Ruben Dias, of course. It's Gabriel Jesus who gets the nod at right-wing ahead of Riyad Mahrez, while Sterling and Foden are preferred to the likes of Jack Grealish, who's on the bench.

Jurgen Klopp goes with a recognisable front three, picking Jota to play ahead of Firmino or Mane at centre-forward. Salah, of course, starts, while Mane gets the nod ahead of Luis Diaz. Alexander-Arnold is in for his first Premier League start since the injury that kept him out of the international break.

The history of the fixture

Here's the complete list of matches between Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp since Pep came to City…

• 31 Dec 2016: Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City, Premier League
• 19 Mar 2017: Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool, Premier League
• 09 Sep 2017: Manchester City 5-0 Liverpool, Premier League
• 14 Jan 2018: Liverpool 4-3 Manchester City, Premier League
• 04 Apr 2018: Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City, Champions League
• 10 Apr 2018: Manchester City 1-2 Liverpool, UEFA Champions League
• 07 Oct 2018: Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City, Premier League
• 03 Jan 2019: Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool, Premier League
• 04 Aug 2019: Liverpool 1-1(p) Manchester City, FA Community Shield
• 10 Nov 2019: Liverpool 3-1 Manchester City, Premier League
• 02 Jul 2020: Manchester City 4-0 Liverpool, Premier League
• 08 Nov 2020: Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool, Premier League
• 07 Feb 2021: Liverpool 1-4 Manchester City, Premier League
• 03 Oct 2021: Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City, Premier League

Full-time in today's other Premier League games

Leicester 2-1 Crystal Palace
Brentford 2-0 West Ham
Norwich 2-0 Burnley

Well, Norwich beating Burnley makes things interesting…

The Canaries are now just a point behind Watford, meaning that they might not actually finish bottom after all. Meanwhile, Everton's win against Manchester United has added importance with the Clarets dropping points. 

Look what's here in attendance…

Looking for where to watch the game? We have you covered

Watch the game, wherever you are in the world, here.

90% of Roberto Firmino's touches in the prematch warm-up have been no-look passes, by the way.

Either Luis Diaz is a big influence on him already, or the Brazilian is planning the spectacular today, should he come off the bench. 

The Liverpool players are booed by City fans as they run down the tunnel. 

It may not be the derby but it's still a big, big deal.

So how does the table look for this one? 

Manchester City are top. They have been for a while. Both teams had to wait a while to reach the same number of games played.

City are on 73 points, Liverpool 72 points. Both have played 30 matches thus far. The Reds' goal difference of +57 is superior, however, to the Cityzens' +52.

Here's someone who a lot of eyes will be on today – and he's standing next to De Bruyne…

De Bruyne is always the centre of attention but the role of Gabriel Jesus will be very interesting today. The Brazilian has played on the right-wing this season and gets the nod ahead of Riyad Mahrez, in Pep Guardiola's biggest call of the starting XI.

We're approaching kick-off: the Etihad is looking fuller and every Man City player's name getting read out is getting a raucous reception from the fans… but Kevin De Bruyne's just got a roar like nothing else. 

Five minutes to go

Noel's here, too, no doubt hoping it's an occasion for champagne (supernova)

KICK-OFF: Liverpool begin the game

1 min: Manchester City have a thrown towards the corner flag, following Virgil van Dijk clearing the ball out of play

1 min: The first touches for Liverpool's backline are greeted by jeers from all corners, as the Reds lose the ball. Back with Ederson, now. 

2 min: Bernardo Silva is dropping deep to receive the ball already, making more of a midfield double-pivot alongside Rodri. Guardiola will no doubt be wary of those intense press traps that Klopp likes to set. 

3 min: Liverpool are doing their best to pen in City with a high press. Laporte almost gave the ball away by his box. An early let-off.

4 min: CHANCE! Alisson foils Sterling. De Bruyne strode through the middle, played in Jesus, who slipped it to Sterling. Good save from the Liverpool keeper. 

4 min GOAL MANCHESTER CITY! DE BRUYNE

De Bruyne's had one jaunt through the centre of the pitch and with his second, he spots a gap between Matip's legs and hits it first time. It goes in off the defender. 1-0.

6 min: The Etihad is rocking now. A flare is chucked onto the pitch. 

6 min: Thiago gets his first touch, tries to play in Mane but City defend resolutely. 

8 min: Manchester City looking comfortable so far. Rodri is dictating play nicely, speading play from side to side. 

8 min: Penalty shout for Gabriel Jesus – Alisson looked to bring down his compatriot. Anthony Taylor waves it away. What an opening. 

10 min: Now City are back on the ball and look very comfortable. Liverpool not panicking, just biding their time to press. It seems like every time Klopp's side advance, City play a long ball looking for Jesus or Sterling. 

11 min: Liverpool with a spell of possession now. The Reds are attacking in a sort of 2-3-5 shape with full-backs high and the wingers narrow. It's going to be tough to find the space but if anyone can…

12 min: GOAL! LIVERPOOL Dioto Jota equalises for the Reds.

What were just saying about this side being able to find space? Thiago crossfield to Alexander-Arnold widen the pitch, before Robertson plays it back into the area. Alexander-Arnold hits it back across goal for Jota to slot home. 1-1.

14 min: City now in control once more. We're back to square one: Liverpool have sat off a little. 

14 min: Sterling just won the ball after Matip strolled out of position. Could that be a theme? The City forwards have been marauding in the spaces around the Liverpool centre-backs. 

15 min: Comfortable save from Alisson from a Jesus shot. 

16 min: Liverpool have their first glimpse of Salah running in behind. Luckily for City, Ederson is there to collect. 

17 min: City are looking for those long balls, this time to Walker on the right. Stretching the play with these crossfield passes have been a fixture of both sides' play. 

17 min: Klopp is livid with Anthony Taylor over something. Careful Jurgen…

18 min: Van Dijk on hand to clear a Walker cross for a corner. That City goal, by the way, the first time Liverpool have conceded a first-half goal in 20 matches. 

20 min: Sterling won the match high up the field and Liverpool struggled to get the ball away. It's another corner – and another example of the England man winning possession high up the field.

21 min: Corner comes in, caught by Alisson but City have it back. They're winning the ball in their final third with incredible hunger. 

21 min: Salah breaks on his own, Walker is there with the recovery pace. Story of two players' seasons, there. 

22 min: Ederson very nearly let the ball into his own net. A lack of concentration and he almost lets a back pass trickle past him.

23 min: Foul by Thiago on Jesus. City have a free-kick and we all have our breath back (for now). 

What a match so far. 

24 min: De Bruyne floats the cross, Stones knocks it across goal and Rodri can't get the all-important touch. 

25 min: Manchester City continuing to build up in this tight shape of Bernardo dropping deep. They recognise the danger, alright. 

26 min: Stones plays it crossfield to Cancelo. He looks to whip a ball in but it's a throw to City: the block is greatly received by the travelling Reds.

26 min: A mix-up in the area between City attackers. Alisson collects. 

27 min: YELLOW De Bruyne was just pulled back by Robertson, who'd been beaten 1v1. Our first caution goes to the Scotland captain. 

28 min: Turns out De Bruyne and Trent are human. The Belgian's free-kick hits the first man and Alexander-Arnold looks to play a first-time shot from the half-way line. Ederson dramatically cushions it with his chest. 

28 min: CHANCE! De Bruyne's a whisker away from a second after Cancelo played him in. He's running the show. 

29 min: Alisson is whistled and booed for taking so long with the goal kick. He goes long. The pressure is getting to everyone… literally. 

30 min: Matip just shepherds the ball out. Alisson goal kick once more. 

30 min: Long to Mane again, who's brought down. 

31 min: The ball is worked from Alexander-Arnold to Robertson via Mane and Salah. Liverpool's attack is then countered by City. It's end to end. 

31 min: It's not exactly rocket science but City think they know where the spaces are. Alexander-Arnold pushing so high is bringing Matip across. That's where Sterling and De Bruyne have found luck so far. Henderson to cover a little more in the second half, perhaps? 

33 min: Jesus crosses to Cancelo, to Bernardo, to Laporte and City are penning in the Reds once more. 

33 min: CHANCE! Foden gets to the end of a long ball from – you've guessed it – Liverpool's righthand side. His snap shot hits the side netting. 

34 min: Foden is offside this time from De Bruyne's first-time cushion. 

35 min: CHANCE! De Bruyne just hit the perfect low ball across ahead of Sterling, who can't reach it. Corner.  

36 min: GOAL! Gabriel Jesus for Manchester City! It's 2-1 to the champions. 

That cross-field ball again. Cancelo floats the ball just ahead of Jesus, who hits it in off the bar. VAR have allowed it. 

37 min: Once more, the Etihad is on its feet and screaming. They've played exquisitely, minus that moment that Jota pulled the score back. 

We're approaching half-time and this has been 100mph so far. 

39 min: YELLOW! Bernardo Silva is booked for a late challenge.

40 min: Cancelo loses the ball in his half: uncharacteristic. Liverpool are in possession and probing. 

42 min: CHANCE! City striding forward again and another cross is just a foot ahead of 5'8 Sterling. If only Peter Crouch were playing up front. 

43 min: Jota played through by Henderson and it's an inch-perfect tackle to foil him through on goal. 

44 min: Anthony Taylor is having a word with Alexander-Arnold after he pulls down Sterling over on Liverpool's righthand side. Free-kick.

45 min: CHANCE! De Bruyne's cross flew in and it hit the woodwork in the melee. Two minutes to be added. 

45 min: City just found the back of the net once more… but the whistle had gone from a foul. Shame, it was a lovely hit. 

45+1 min: Liverpool in possession now late in the half. Klopp is ready to run into the dressing room. 

HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 2-1 LIVERPOOL

Well this one has lived up to the hype so far. A frenetic first 45 minutes in which Liverpool and City went hammer and tongs at one another ends with the champions having the upper hand.

As it stands, Manchester City are going four points clear at the top of the table with seven games remaining.

The theme of the game has been clear in this game of chess so far: it's all about stretching the shape of the other team and finding the spaces behind them. 

The full-backs have been key. Naturally, Trent and Robbo have pushed high and been integral to each Liverpool chance but equally, Walker and Cancelo have been big for City today. Sterling and Foden are constantly looking for those gaps behind Matip and Alexander-Arnold, as City lure their opponents onto them and hit them hard. 

Liverpool are first out after the break, followed by their hosts. No changes to report of for either side. 

SECOND HALF: We're underway with the second 45.

45 min: GOAL! Sadio Mane equalises for Liverpool! Mane on his birthday, as the second half begins with a bang.

It's Salah who finds Mane and Liverpool catch City napping at the back. What a start to the second half. 

46 min: Well that team talk worked, then. Liverpool have a free-kick in the centre circle and looking a little more comfortable than they did in the first half. 

47 min: Liverpool are in the ascendency. A Robertson cross flashes across the six-yard box, as Salah collects on the opposite flank. 

49 min: City looking to build from the back again but Liverpool are choosing when to press carefully and aren't allowing the champions to play through them so easily. 

50 min: The City faithful are roaring their team on. Alisson had to come out of his box to head a ball away. 

51 min: Cancelo gets an important block to prevent Salah having a chance just yards out. The ball's back with the Reds, though. City can't escape. 

51 min: CHANCE! Jota is threaded through and Ederson has to make a save. City build again – and need to be more careful in possession.

52 min: Stones to Walker with a long ball; his cross is caught by Alisson. City cede possession again. 

54 min: Liverpool have started this second half with a little more patience and it's paying off thus far. City now on the ball though, looking for a way through. 

55 min: Bernardo clears the ball for a throw – and he's been superb so far. The beating heart of City's performance.

56 min: Foul by Thiago on Jesus near to the centre circle. No card, much to the anger of City fans. 

57 min: Ederson looking for those long balls again. Will the space open up?

58 min: Alexander-Arndold finds himself the furthest man forward and is foiled: now City counter with Bernardo in the area: Liverpool get back and are in possession once more. 

60 min: City had Liverpool penned in deeper than they have been all game there: but can't sustain the pressure. A couple of potential fouls in there that Anthony Taylor lets go for advantages. 

60 min: CHANCE! Van Dijk didn't clear that Sterling shot quite off the line but very nearly. The floodlights have come on, by the way. 

61 min: YELLOW! Thiago booked for an earlier challenge that was allowed to go in the heat of a City attack.  

61 min: It's City pushing now. Foden is getting into the game more and testing Alexander-Arnold down this right-hand side – which has been much more secure since half-time. 

62 min: GOAL! Raheem Sterling makes it 3-2! Manchester City regain the lead. 

VAR is checking the goal…

It's a De Bruyne pass once more as Sterling is set through past the Liverpool high line – VAR rules it out though. 

It's still 2-2 here. City fans are incredulous but it's the right call. We go again…

64 min: City are the ones in control now, popping the ball around and forcing their visitors back, as the crowd find their voice. It certainly feels like next goals wins.  

65 min: Luis Diaz stripped for Liverpool. Looks like Klopp is blinking first with his bench. 

67 min: City on the counter as De Bruyne finds Sterling onvce more. He's in the area and can't wriggle free from van Dijk. 

69 min: SUBSTITUTION The first goalscorer, Diogo Jota, comes off, Luis Diaz comes on. Mane will be heading up front, it seems.

Jota has been quiet in this second half but has left his mark on this one. 

70 min: CHANCE! Diaz with his first touch plays Mane, who finds Salah. Salah snatches at it and has a shot which is obviously deflected by a City defender… yet given for a goal kick. Oh, well. 

71 min: CHANCE! Jesus hits the side netting following another through ball from De Bruyne. Entering the last 20 minutes, now – and the Belgian has been outstanding today. 

73 min: Mane is back to tackle De Bruyne on his own area. That's what you get with the Senegalese up front and a testament to how good De Bruyne has been. Meanwhile, Cancelo has just won a free-kick following an outrageous dragback. 

74 min: SUBSTITUTION: Raheem Sterling is given a standing ovation by City fans and booed by the travelling lot, as Riyad Mahrez comes on in his place. Jesus will move up front, by the looks of things. 

75 min: City have had the better of the last 15 minutes as Liverpool look to change things with some possession around City's box. 

76 min: Corner to Liverpool. The Reds have been playing it in their final third and Henderson puts in a cross that's deflected out. 

76 min: The corner's cleared and City look to counter. Liverpool are preparing their next change. 

77 min: SUBSTITUTION Jordan Henderson off for Naby Keita. Van Dijk takes the armband. 

78 min: Walker caught in possession and Liverpool were on for a break there… but City swarm back. 

80 min: De Bruyne pulled the ball back in the box… but no one was there to get onto it.  

Just the 10 minutes to go now. It could go either way. City and Liverpool have almost been equal in this second half and the game could turn with just one moment of brilliance or a mistake. 

81 min: Bernardo Silva is hacked down around 35 yards from goal. The City fans are livid. 

82 min: YELLOW Fabinho booked for scraping down the achilles of the Portuguese.

82 min SUBSTITUTION: Jack Grealish comes on for Gabriel Jesus. 

83 min: De Bruyne's free kick almost finds Rodri back post. Mane is there to cover again: he's put a shift in, alright. 

83 min SUBSTITUTION: Roberto Firmino is on for Sadio Mane up front. 

84 min: Thiago clattered into De Bruyne and avoids that second yellow. City fans are not happy bunnies, understandably. 

85 min: It's Foden up top for City now, Grealish left-wing. 

86 min: Walker with another long ball up field. Mahrez attempting to weave his way through before Cancelo wins a throw over by the corner. City on the attack, still. 

87 min: Rodri got a cross in and Matip just about managed to clear. City go again and Cancelo whips a curler just beyond Alisson's shoulder and wide. 

88 min: YELLOW! Virgil van Dijk pulls De Bruyne down while he's running through the centre of Liverpool's defence once more. A free kick in a dangerous area… and Pep is livid at the foul. 

89 min: CHANCE! Mahrez takes the free kick and it's narrowly past the diving Alisson's post.  

Four minutes will be added on. 

 90 min: Liverpool free kick 30 yards from goal as De Bruyne smashes into an oncoming Fabinho. It was a clumsy challenge and Trent Alexander-Arnold is clutching the ball. 

90 min+1: Alexander-Arnold floats it in but City deal with the danger. Liverpool still with the ball. 

90+2 min: Liverpool have a throw in the final third after Salah went on a jaunt down the right. He's been quiet today but marshalled well. 

90+3 min: CHANCE! Mahrez with a glorious chance and he skies it. City were on the break and it's that man again, De Bruyne, who played the vital pass. 

FULL-TIME: Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool

So honours are even. The game ends 2-2 – just like it did at Anfield – and City are still ahead in the table by a point. 

Liverpool have to hope for favours from others, now. The two sides meet once more in the FA Cup semi-final next weekend at Wembley Stadium. 

MAN OF THE MATCH: Kevin De Bruyne

The difference-maker here against Atletico Madrid midweek, KDB was imperious today, controlling the midfield and running through a number of times through Liverpool's defence like a knife through hot butter. He was also the creative spark behind almost every big chance that the champions had and was unlucky to be denied an assist from Sterling's goal – which was ruled out for offside. 

Tim Stillman with a belter of a fact, here…

The two managers appear to still be on good terms, at least

We called it before the game

Gabriel Jesus repaid his manager's faith in him with that goal to put them 2-1 up – and was a constant thorn in the Liverpool defence. Has he done enough to start again against the Reds next weekend in the FA Cup?

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson to Sky Sports…

"It was an intense game which we knew it would be. We knew it would be tough but we wanted to give it everything and get the win. We couldn't do that but we didn't lose. It's not the end of the world, we are still in the race, so positives and negatives.

"I think we started OK but we were a little hectic at times. Of course we knew we would come under pressure early on, they are a fantastic team. I felt we settled down a bit and caused them problems. It's pleasing how we twice came from behind. We want to do better of course.

"You have to keep going, you have to be prepared to suffer. You have to stay positive, stay on the front foot and not give them time. It worked at times, at others we can defend better."

Kevin De Bruyne speaking on Sky Sports…

"It was hard. To be fair I think we played excellent. The way we played was very good and we should score more. It is what it is. It was a great game.

"I think it should [be more before half-time] but we were still winning. The way the second half started is the disappointment. I think we played great and created enough chances to win the game."

"It's a great chance [towards the end for Mahrez]. Riyad chose to chip and if it goes in it's a wonder goal. Today we played very well, I think we had the upper hand. This is the way we need to play the rest of the season."

This, by the way, is the first time that Manchester City have dropped points all season after scoring first. 

We'll leave it there. Thanks for joining us for this one – what a game it was.