PLAYER RATINGS: Manchester City’s maestro Bernardo Silva shines as the best player on the pitch… while Liverpool duo Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones struggle in midfield during 1-1 draw

• Erling Haaland scored to become the fastest player to 50 Premier League goals 
• Trent Alexander-Arnold pegged one back from Liverpool with a quality effort
• City-Liverpool is tough to referee… but our campaign is up and running – IAKO 

Manchester City and Liverpool shared the points in an exciting encounter at the Etihad leaving Pep Guardiola’s side top of the Premier League.

Erling Haaland opened the scoring with a well taken finish and with it the Norwegian broke Andy Cole’s record for the fastest player to 50 Premier League goals.

City thought they went 2-0 up when Ruben Dias prodded home from a corner, but Manuel Akanji was ruled to have fouled Alisson in the buildup. 

It was Trent Alexander-Arnold who struck back for the Reds as he smashed home a brilliant effort from the edge of the box to square the game and ensure Jurgen Klopp’s side came away with a point.

Mail Sport’s LEWIS STEELE rated the players on Saturday afternoon. 

Erling Haaland fired Manchester City into the lead with a well good effort from outside the area

Haaland became the fastest player to score 50 Premier League goals, surpassing Andy Cole

Trent Alexander-Arnold equalised for Liverpool with a brilliantly taken goal from the edge of the box

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Manchester City (3-2-4-1)

Ederson – 7.5

Made a couple of important stops in both halves, including one from a powerful Darwin Nunez header. The Brazilian’s distribution was imperious as ever.

Kyle Walker – 6.5

Kept both Diogo Jota and then Luis Diaz quiet and his recovery pace thwarted a couple of counter-attacks that threatened to be dangerous.

Ruben Dias – 7

Stepped up with a commanding performance after a tricky afternoon at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago, with the Portuguese barely allowing Nunez a sniff.

Manuel Akanji – 7.5

Played the John Stones role of stepping into midfield when in possession and looked calm on the ball. The Swiss defender was dominating in the air and headed clear a few set-pieces.

Nathan Ake – 7.5

A very pleasing afternoon for the Dutch defender, playing at left back. Ake kept Mohamed Salah very quiet and played a big part in City’s goal.

Dutch international Nathan Ake impressed in the build up to City’s goal, beating two defenders

Rodri – 6.5

Uncharacteristically lost possession in worrying areas a couple of times but broke up play well with some interceptions.

Julian Alvarez – 6 

Had a couple of big chances but rushed his shots when he might have taken a touch and finished with composure. His quick feet in midfield are a good weapon for City.

Bernardo Silva – 8

The best player on the pitch for most of the match. Silva ran the show for City in midfield and glided past several Liverpool players on a number of occasions.

Phil Foden – 7

Hard luck with a long-range effort late in the first half that was tipped wide by Alisson at full stretch. Foden did not get the joy he often does on the right-hand flank, though.

Erling Haaland – 7  

Took his goal well with a nice first touch and finish. Haaland won several gestures of applause from his manager after tracking back and winning possession in his own half a few times.

Jeremy Doku – 7.5

A brilliant footballer to watch. Doku has a constant desire to run at defenders and he beat Trent Alexander-Arnold time and time again. Only complaint was his final ball at times.

Flying Belgian winger Jeremy Doku was a consistent threat down Liverpool’s right hand side

Pep Guardiola – 7 

Tactics worked for most of the game as City dominated possession and frustrated Liverpool’s front three. Another game where the Catalan made zero substitutes. 

Liverpool (4-3-3)

Alisson – 5

Looked jetlagged in the first half with two sloppy pieces of distribution. He had a lucky escape when gifting Foden the ball once and then was punished for Haaland’s goal.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7 

Doku gave him a tough afternoon by constantly running at him but Alexander-Arnold stood tall and scored a great goal. The vice-captain was good in possession.

Joel Matip – 6.5

Had to cover Alexander-Arnold and double up when Doku ran at Liverpool’s defence but Matip did well.

Virgil van Dijk – 7 

Didn’t put a foot wrong and kept City’s attackers, Haaland in particular, quiet. The captain was very vocal in urging his team to remain level-headed after going a goal behind.

Kostas Tsimikas – 7  

Some Liverpool fans doubted Tsimikas when he was picked ahead of Joe Gomez at left-back but the Greek defender put in an admirable shift and rarely allowed Foden past him.

Jurgen Klopp’s side come away from the Etihad with a point, ensuring they stay second

Alexis MacAllister – 6.5 

Jurgen Klopp said the Argentine is growing into his role as holding midfielder. He had his hands full with compatriot Alvarez and Silva running behind him but Mac Allister did well.

Dominik Szoboszlai – 5 

Was given a little bit more licence to roam forward today but did not impact the game like he would have hoped.

Curtis Jones – 5  

Struggled a bit in midfield and it was no surprise to see him the first player substituted for Liverpool. Jones is underrated but he could not impact this game how he wanted.

Mohammed Salah – 6 

A poor performance but still came away with an assist. Ake meant the Egyptian barely had a sniff in front of goal.

Darwin Nunez – 5 

Was unlucky not to score with an early header but Nunez did not impact this game how he would have liked.

Diogo Jota – 5  

Another of Liverpool’s attackers that did not get the joy he would have liked. Jota got into some dangerous positions but fluffed his lines a couple of times.

Liverpool snatched the qualiser through Alexander-Arnold and managed to net away point

Substitutes:

Luis Diaz (for Jota 54min) – 5, Ryan Gravenberch (Jones 54) – 6, Cody Gakpo (Szoboszlai 73) – 5, Elliott (Nunez 85) – not enough time to rate, Endo (Mac Allister 85) – not enough time to rate

Jurgen Klopp – 7 

His introduction of Ryan Gravenberch added pace into midfield, while a tactical switch helped Alexander-Arnold improve.

REFEREE 

Chris Kavanagh – 6 

Akanji might have felt unlucky to be penalised for a foul when City could have gone 2-0 up but Kavanagh refereed the game sensibly. 

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