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Manchester City F.C. ’s John Stones(L) vie for the ball with Liverpool F.C. ‘s Sadio Mane during their English Premier League match on Sunday.[/caption]
Manchester, March 20 (IANS): Manchester City played out a 1-1 draw with Liverpool in an English Premier League (EPL) match at the Etihad Stadium here.
James Milner converted a penalty to open the scoring for Liverpool six minutes into the second half on Sunday evening, reports Efe news agency.
Mancherter City equalised at the 69-minute mark when Kevin De Bruyne sent a cross from the right to Sergio Aguero, who found the target.
Manchester City held on to third place in the standings with 57 points, just one point ahead of fourth placed Liverpool, while Chelsea are at the pole position with 69 points.
City started the game on an attacking note with David Silva pulling the strings in midfield. Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane troubled the Liverpool defenders with their speed down the flanks and only some desparate, last-ditch defending prevented the hosts from scoring.
City almost took the lead in the 20th minute when Sane’s cross was whisked away by the Liverpool defence. The loose ball fell to Silva whose shot sailed inches wide of the post.
The hosts came close once again five minutes before half-time when Silva latched on to a Kevin De Bruyne pass just inside the Liverpool penalty area and whipped in a low cross at the far post where Fernandinho blasted into the side netting with the goal at his mercy.
Liverpool ended the half as stronger of the two teams as City goalkeeper Willy Caballero had to produce excellent saves to keep out a curling shot by Firmino and a powerful attempt from Adam Lallana.
The hosts conceded a penalty early in the second half when Liverpool winger Firmino chased a high ball into the penalty area where he was brought down by City left-back Gael Clichy.
Milner stepped up to punch in the resultant penalty and give Liverpool the lead.
City found the equaliser 20 minutes from time when De Bruyne whipped in a low cross into the six-yard box from the right flank and Argentine star Sergio Aguero produced a clinical finish.
That set up 20 minutes of exciting, end to end action as both sets of players went all out in search of the winning goal. But a combination of poor finishing, desperate defending and excellent goalkeeping prevented any change to the scoreline.
