Some draws are more of a triumph than others.
And when you’ve been dented by Napoli, fatigued by journey, and faced one of the toughest tests of the season, a point is a valuable trophy.
It becomes even more so when main rivals United have already slipped up, 24 hours earlier, in a more winnable game.
To go away from a ferocious Anfield atmosphere, after a lung-bursting effort from Kenny Dalglish’s very good side, with a draw was no mean feat.
Joe Hart was the hero with four blinding saves, but the truth is that Liverpool scored a lucky goal and the Blues should have won it at the death when the normally impeccable David Silva couldn’t find the net when set up by Edin Dzeko.
By then the Blues were, dubiously, down to ten men, and clinging on, but this was always going to be a real test of character.
The last time they lost, at Bayern Munich, they followed up with a 4-0 win at Blackburn. With all due respect to Rovers, that is the kind of game you want after a tough Champions League fixture in midweek.
Even then, City were not hugely convincing, before running away with in the second half.
This was a different kettle of fish.
Liverpool are not the most consistent side in the Premier League, but they specialise in putting the skids under wannabe champions.
They have already won at Arsenal and Chelsea this season and in the last campaign the top three of United, Chelsea and City all fell to them at Anfield.
At first glance, it looked like Roberto Mancini had heeded his own words after the Blues were counter-attacked to death in Naples.
He told his disconsolate dressing room afterwards that sometimes they need to defend, as they can’t always steamroller opponents into the mud with their remarkable attacking talents.
For this game, he played with just one recognised striker, Sergio Aguero, which might have been seen as a recognition that Mancini, too, has recognised the need for pragmatism.
But once the game got underway, with Yaya Toure still pushing forward from midfield, it still looked like City were intent on out-scoring their opponents.
Liverpool had lost the services of Craig Bellamy before the game, the Welsh international too upset to play after the death of his national team manager and former playing colleague.
No-one wants to profit in those circumstances, but it did mean Liverpool did not have as much pace – and no vengeance factor – with which to cope.
Supreme
City began the brighter of the two teams, Yaya Toure firing over on the half-volley and Sergio Aguero darting on to a slack Jose Enrique back-pass.
Pepe Reina raced out of his area and appeared to use a hand to smuggle the ball clear, but referee Martin Atkinson saw nothing wrong when it might have been a red card offence.
Unperturbed, the Blues then put together a supreme passing move as David Silva, Aguero and Samir Nasri ripped open the Liverpool right flank, only for Nasri’s cross to fall behind the predatory Aguero.
After all the slick passing football, it was perhaps predictable that City would go ahead with an ugly goal.
Silva’s corner was perfect for Kompany, but he missed his header - only for the ball to glance off his shoulder and nestle in the far corner.
The travelling fans had barely linked arms for the Poznan when the home side drew level, and it was something of a defensive clanger.
Charlie Adam’s 35-yard shot lacked power and accuracy, but Joleon Lescott, perhaps unsure of his pitch position, stuck out a foot and diverted it past the wrong-footed Joe Hart.
The crowd was suddenly in full voice and Liverpool were intent on denting another reputation. Hart had to be at full stretch to save Adam’s shot with his foot, and Glen Johnson curled a shot inches wide of the far post as City rocked for a moment.
But this team has plenty of composure and experience, and they recovered enough to have the final say of the first half as Silva, flitting in and out of the game majestically, slipped a pass for Aguero – from a tight angle he slammed a shot against Reina.
The tension and tempo didn’t slacked in the second half, either.
City still looked uncomfortable with Suarez running at them, and when Kompany nervously flicked at Stewart Downing’s cross, only a lack of composure from Dirk Kuyt prevented him from getting a header on target.
Hart also had to be alive when Downing powered a shot down into the ground and it threatened to bounce over the keeper before he got his fingertips to the ball.
Things got a whole lot harder for City when Substitute Mario Balotelli was sent off.
His first yellow card was a silly one, a frustrated little tug on Glen Johnson, but his second was highlt questionable.
He had an arm raised as he challenged for the ball with Martin Skrtel but had his eyes on the ball and barely brushed the Liverpool defender.
Even with ten men City could have won it, as another sub Edin Dzeko, showed a turn of power and pace to storm down the left wing, and then pick out Silva unmarked.
Untypically, the little Spaniard took a moment to control, and the Liverpool defence recovered enough for Skrtel to block his shot on the line.
Liverpool 1 Manchester City 1: Stuart Brennan's verdict
November 27, 2011
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A great point, and as we all know big Joe has proven himself the prems top keeper.
Started out well with the football, then after they got their goal we seem to have lost concentration for large parts of the game that made them look better than they are.. Had the liverpool fans on the edge of their seats. What was Mario doing? fouls and giving the ball away. Well done to Vincent, Joe the saviour and the rest of the team. Happy Birthday to Roberto, still top of the league, undefeated. Pity Dzeko and david couldn’t finish them off.Free kicks into the penalty area crossing from left to right, right to left, last line of defence double check someone hasn’t sneaked off/peeled off to have the danger area all to themselves.!
If we hold our concentration and play like we did in our best period then we come away from the Arsenal game with the next round.
Good point, especially with rags dropping points yesterday. Joe Hart, magnificent. But oh David, why ddin't you look to your right with that chance at the end - YaYa was in acres of space. Anyway can't complain. Onwards and upwards. CTID. .
Good result in the end.
A point is a point... and still unbeaten. Could have been three, however, could also have been none without the intervention of big Joe. Earned his corn today.
Onwards and upwards. Apart from Spuds good results for us all round.
Suarez's arms must be killing him. The amount of time that bin-dipper had them up in the air was astronomical. Well done blues, a good away point, still undefeated. Joe Hart MOM. Unlucky for Lescott, unfortunate for him but never let his head go down. MARIO!!! arrrgh what are you doing to us, your killing me. CTID
We can be so predictable with our play sometimes !! Toure has two gears....Olympic Athlete or slow and cumbersome....today he was the latter! Only Hart came away from Anfield with any credit.
for the 1st time I think playing away in Champions League midweek told on our 2nd half performance. you couldnt fault the 1st half. hats off to Liverpool for matching us. thought Vinny, Lescott, Clichy and hart were all top drawer throughout. usually a soft own goal and even softer sending off would cost us but we held on well & could even have nicked it at the death with Silva. It would have been nice to go 7 points clear but we didnt. the only team making real strides below us is Tottenham & I dont see them as a real threat. It's a shame for mario as the ref sent off the reputation rather than the challenge - yes it was clumsy but certainly not dangerous. he didnt even jump. what was clear was the compactness & solidity at the end. Liverpool threw everything at it but only had the Carroll header to show for it against 10 men. still 5 clear coming up to Xmas. who needs pressies this year?
Toughest game yet. We were well under par. Great to take the lead. Unfortunate to concede. But second half we were second best and if not for Joe Hart we would have lost. A point was a result for us in the end. Glad we stuck at it for the full 93 mins.
Decent defensive performance, very very mediocre going forward, but that was to be expected I suppose after the midweek exertions.
Disappointed Silva didn't spot Yaya coming into the diving box at the end there, prefering to have a shot instead.
On a side note Martin Atkinson put in a pathetic display, no protection for our flair players from the thugs Skrtel and Agger, desperate to send Mario of as soon as he came on and got his way with two non-bookings, and Diving-Louise only had to sneeze to get a free kick, very very sub-standard refereeing today possibly killed of any chance of a fair contest.
Never a sending off in a million years! Atkinson has come in for some stick this season and I can see why. Poor performance from him. We battled well for a draw! Loose here, and in the reserve match at Arsenal on Tues and the hacks would have been all over us. Good results elsewhere means its a crucial point. Well battled boys! Put your feet up til next Sat and let the 2nd XI sort out Wengers kids!
CTID
Were not at it today and still managed a draw away at Anfield is not the end of the world onwards and upwards blues!
A good point that today, well done lads, still unbeaten!!!!!!
Joe Hart was superb!!!!!!!!
CTID
Some referees would have sent Reina off for his handball outside the box, but hey this is Anfield. The Blues looked capable of an easy win until the scousers had their 2nd stroke of luck with the equaliser. From thenon they looked favourites. Nasri and Yaya were not up to the task. When is Nasrigoing to settle in? Joe was magnificent after a bit of a shaky start. So a point was a good result in the end. The sending off was a little unfair, yes Mario deserved a booking for his stupid pull back, but all he did was put his arm across Skyrtle and he went down crying like a baby, when are refs going to get used to these play acting players and start booking them. Skyrtle is one of the crudest players in the premiership.
Very very good point today. It was crucial we didn't lose and we held on manfully thanks to Joe Hart. They looked tired in the last 10 -15 minutes and it is becoming worrying. Maybe they should be sent back to Wythenshawe Park again.
No doubt some of the Lescott detractors will be having a pop, but I thought he was excellent again today and mightily unfortunate with the goal. Milner was again very good and Hart was magnificent. My man of the match though was Clichy, good driving runs, excellent defensive work and he hardly played a bad ball all afternoon.
With the results this weekend being favourable, and taking into account we now have only Chelsea and Arsenal to visit, we look dead certs for the title.
i honnestly dont think the ref was going to book Mario for the second foul untill he clasped his hands and questioned the decision .
Message to referees...You don't have to book Mario for every single challenge!!!! Just treat him like any other player.
Atkinson a poor refereeing performance. He let go so many fouls on Silva and Agüero, some I admit he gave advantage, but the problem there is the foul count doesn't go up against some players, and his distribution of yellows was very much in Liverpool's favour: one for Kompany (OK) but not for Skrtel on Agüero?! Mario silly for first yellow, second a joke - but he should know to be more careful. We'd have been bullied out of this one last year, well done you blues
WELL DONE BLUES & BOBBI
A point deserved..an unbeaten Man City ..
Only negatives was YAYA's passing...I thought Silva would of stole the show...
A big praise needs to goto Joe Hart ...how awsome is this kid..
Mario by looking at him did not want to play and showed he has still the silly streak in him..hopefully Bobbi will knock it right out of him.
GOD BLESS GARY SPEED - R I P ......
CITY FOR LIFE !!
I thought we were magnificent today. But the more the game the more we looked jaded. Balo was unlucky but a rest will do him good. Glad to see Roberto defend him. Also nice to see Adams make such fair comments at the end of the game.
Look, you would take a point at Anfield all day. Good result, history, another game in two days and then Munich, Chelsea and Arsenal. Can't wait, hope the players feel the same way.
Just put Edin Dzeko on the bench and everything will be fine - not. Mr Mancini, Dzeko is your Most Valuable Player so please start treating him as one.
Happy with a point. We should never forget football has an eleven man team - and Joe Hart made that very clear today. Great job Joe.
Also liked Clichy today - starting to think he might be the real deal.
Joe Hart is the best goalkeeper in England by a mile; and he'll bring City the PL trophy in May next year.
Magnificent result by City, Joe Hart, outstanding.
A slightly below par performance and for that reason a point at Anfield acceptable. As for the red scouser's, they become a team of divers and con merchants, especially the performance to get Mario sent off. A quick word to Aguero, we don't like the imaginery card waving please stop.