MX23RW : Friday, April 19 08:18:24| >> :60:611:611:

Live Commentary: Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City as it happened

Live text coverage of the final match of the second Premier League weekend at Anfield between Liverpool and Manchester City, courtesy of Sports Mole.

Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the final match of the second Premier League weekend.

Liverpool welcome Premier League champions Manchester City to Anfield and the visitors will be installed as early favourites.

However, the Blues haven't beaten the hosts in nine consecutive matches at Anfield - a run dating back to 2003.

Will City continue their 100% start to the new season or can Liverpool bounce back from last weekend's trouncing at West Brom?

Keep up with every twist and turn with our detailed coverage below.


5.57pmThanks for joining Sports Mole for live coverage, we hope you had as much fun as we did. See you again soon.

5.55pmClick here to see how the latest Premier League table looks. City up to fourth while Liverpool pick up their first point to go 16th.

5.52pmSo that's that then. Great game at Anfield and City may feel they've snatched a draw here. Liverpool were excellent in all honesty and but for a couple of soft goals would have won this game.

FULL-TIME:Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City

90+4 minSuarez gets a booking for some petulance and that's just silly Luis. No need to ruin my Fantasy points!

90+3 minSilva's corner is headed away and drops for Tevez but his volley is rubbish.

90+3 minCorner to City as Gerrard charges down Kolarov's shot. They couldn't, could they?

90+2 minJohnson cuts inside onto his left foot but the Englishman's shot is fairly weak and easy for Hart to gather. Two left.

90+1 minLiverpool break forward down the right but Suarez can't pick out Carroll while at the other end Yaya is just denied by Reina.

90 minFour minutes of stoppage time added.

88 minOff the line! Suarez stands up a cross for Carroll and the header back across goal may have been going in but for Kolarov's intervention.

88 minShelvey has a shot as the corner is cleared but it hits Kolo's head and it's another corner.

87 minCorner for the hosts as the ever-impressive Sterling works space before dinking a cross to the back post that Kompany has to stoop to clear.

86 minChance for City as Tevez holds off challenges before feeding Kolarov, whose cross is turned goalwards by Dzeko but it's too high.

85 minFive minutes plus any stoppages remaining and this is there for the taking, surely?

84 minThe big Englishman enters the fray to a massive roar, Borini comes off.

82 minGood hit from Shelvey on the edge of the area but his left-foot strike whizzes just over Hart's crossbar. Andy Carroll is being readied on the touchline.

82 minAll of Liverpool's hard work completely undone by Skrtel, real howler that.

80 minUh oh Martin Skrtel. The hero from the first half plays a backpass that's straight into the path of Tevez, who rounds Reina before slotting into an empty net for his 100th goal in English football.

80 minGOAL! TEVEZ EQUALISES! SHOCKER FROM SKRTEL!

79 minTricky work from Tevez on the edge of the area results in the ball being fired in but Skrtel does well to clear away.

77 minSilva's introduction means that City will revert to a 4-4-2 with Zabaleta moving across to right-back and Kolarov dropping to left-back.

76 minFinal change for City as David Silva replaces James Milner. Can the Spaniard inspire City to an equaliser?

75 minLiverpool's hounding down of City again wins them the ball and Gerrard is inches from finding Suarez breaking into the area. Wonderful pressing from Rodgers's men.

74 minMarriner decides to call Kompany and Suarez in for a chat after a bit of handbags. Nothing to be seen here.

72 minPenalty shout from Liverpool as Johnson broke into the area and was challenged from behind. Marriner shakes his head but Kolarov's tackle is nowhere near the ball and seems to have affected Johnson's run. Could have easily been given.

71 minAmid all the goal excitement I forgot to tell you that Jose Enrique has come on in place of Martin Kelly, with Glen Johnson switching flanks to his preferred right-back position.

69 minBorini again breaks clear down the right but he can't pick out Suarez in the middle. We've got a game on our hands now all right.

68 minGoodness me, we weren't level for long were we? City will be angry with the decision that led to the FK though as it really wasn't handball.

66 minBrilliant, brilliant, brilliant from the Uruguayan, whose curled effort goes round the wall before dipping just inside the near post. Great hit and good news for my Fantasy Football team!

66 minGOAL! SUAREZ SCORES FROM THE FREE KICK!

65 minLiverpool have a free kick about 25 yards out as Rodwell charges down a Gerrard shot and is adjudged to have handled. Harsh decision that.

63 minWhat did I say?! Tevez beats Sterling before digging out a cross that is flicked backward and hits Kelly before bouncing in front of the Ivorian, who volleys home on the spin! 1-1.

63 minGOAL! YAYA EQUALISES!

63 minRodwell's introduction will see Yaya, who so often scores big goals, move higher up and support the front two.

62 minSecond substitution for City as Dzeko replaces Balotelli for a bit more physicality up front.

61 minMore intricate passing from the Blues results in Milner pulling back for Balotelli who hits the post but it turns out the Englishman was offside.

60 minLovely one-touch footy between Balotelli and Tevez but the latter can't dig out a cross to a teammate.

60 minHere's the change and Rodwell takes the place of Nasri, who's had a pretty nonexistent game.

58 minThe ball ricochets off Balotelli's heel and Suarez dinks to the back post but both Gerrard and Borini had gone to the near.

58 minNope, Jack Rodwell will be the first change for the visitors and the former Evertonian is sure to get a warm welcome (not!)

57 minSurely we'll see David Silva or Edin Dzeko soon? City need something up top.

54 minBlimey. We were talking about Joe Allen's passing efficiency but he's just played a long ball back to Reina that was almost cut out by Tevez.

54 minThe egg-headed midfielder is up on his feet and looks OK to continue. Play resumed.

53 minKompany puts the ball out of play as Shelvey, who came on for Lucas in the third minute, is down injured.

50 minChance for the Reds as Borini breaks clear down the right and find Suarez but the Uruguayan can't apply the finish, toepoking wide of Hart's goal.

49 minLiverpool have pressed excellently in this game and forcing City into passing mistakes with regularity. Yes, this is the same team who lost 3-0 at West Brom last week.

48 minStrange decision from Marriner to award a free kick to City when Sterling seemed to be brought down by Kolo.

46 minSky Sports News reporter Geoff Shreeves reveals that Lucas Leiva picked up his early injury in the warm-up and failed to run it off.

46 minNo changes for either side and we're back underway at Anfield.

4.58pmLiverpool are also fielding their youngest average age XI since December 2003 at 24 years, 364 days.

4.56pmHere's a couple of nice stats from the opening half. Joe Allen completed all 21 of his attempted passes while Man City trail at half time in an away match in the PL for the first time since trailing at Liverpool 3-0 16 months ago (coutesy of Infostrada).

4.53pmIf you give us a nice little manual refresh you'll be able to see a picture of Skrtel hammering home the header. Bosh.

4.50pmThat was a great half from the Reds and they deserve to be ahead. What will City do after the break? Will Mancini make a change straight away or wait it out for 10-15 minutes?

4.47pmNothing came of that free kick so we're separated at Anfield by the head of Martin Skrtel.

HALF-TIME:Liverpool 1-0 City

45+1 minSterling tracks back but brings down Balotelli and City have a free kick in a dangerous position.

45 minOne minute added on at the end of the first half.

45 minBetter ball in from the left wing-back but it's cleared by Liverpool.

44 minAnother corner for the visitors as Milner does well in the corner.

44 min...Kolarov takes it but that's pants and it doesn't even beat the first man.

43 minCity have a corner as Johnson prevents Nasri collecting...

42 minSuarez has a go from outside the box but he doesn't wrap his foot around it enough and it curls wide.

41 minAnother searching pass, this time from the home side, finds Sterling and he backs into Kolo before falling over and getting nothing.

40 minThe sun's out at Anfield and the home fans are in full voice. Nothing much from City as Yaya looks for Balotelli with a ranging ball that's just a little long.

37 minThat really was some header from Skrtel. Will City be able to get back into this before the interval?

34 minIt's an absolute bullet of a header from the big centre-back from a Gerrard corner. The marking from Kolarov was a little lax but it's still a thunderbolt from the big Slovak. GAME ON!

34 minGOAL! SKRTEL GIVES LIVERPOOL THE LEAD!

34 minSo close for Liverpool as Gerrard whips over a ridiculously good low cross that Kompany diverts just over his own crossbar.

33 minThere's going to be so many puns about a Sterling peformance from the young boy. He's playing really, really well.

31 minCity counter and Balotelli is up against Skrtel. He turns left, then right before skying a left-foot effort. Waste.

30 min"Oh!" Scream the Kop as Suarez has a first-time go from the edge of the area but he puts it flush on Kolo's head. May have been goalbound.

28 minThe home side work a nice move down the left with the ball breaking to Borini, whose shot is well blocked and goes for a corner. The Italian tries to get the Kop going and they're encouraged.

27 minJohnson is penalised, somewhat harshly, for a challenge on Milner in the corner as Liverpool look to win the ball back.

26 min...Nasri takes and it beats everyone with Reina being very flappy.

25 minBalotelli takes the ball of Coates before winning a free kick as Kelly looked to get the ball back. Free kick on the angle of the area for City...

24 minSterling is having a great game in his first Anfield start, at the heart of everything good coming from Liverpool at the moment.

21 minJust seen a replay of that Tevez chance and it really was remarkable footwork from the diminutive Argentinian. Top stuff.

19 minCITY HIT THE POST! Nasri feeds Tevez who has absolutely no angle but chips up a shot towards goal that bounces across the face before hitting the far post and just staying out! That would have been some goal.

18 minChance! Brilliant work from the teenager Sterling on the left as he jinxes inside and sends over a delicious cross that is met by the right foot of Borini. The Italian can't quite divert it towards goal though and it flies wide.

17 minThe camera pans to Liverpool's latest acquisition, Nuri Sahin, in the crowd. They'll need his creativity by the looks of things.

15 minSuarez squares up Kompany in the area but he can't outthink the Belgian and the ball is cleared.

15 minTevez sidesteps Coates with a drop of the shoulder before fizzing a cross that beats everyone and goes wide of the far post. No real goalmouth action in the opening 15.

13 minMilner turns Johnson inside out before dinking over a cross that Reina rises high to gather. Even game so far.

10 minLiverpool appeal for a penalty as Borini hits the ball at Kolarov but Marriner waves away the protests and that's the right call.

9 minKolarov lines up the resulting free kick and strikes it well enough but it's straight at Reina, who holds on well.

8 minSkrtel hauls down Balotelli after the Italian had rolled him and was looking to bear down on goal. No booking for the big Slovakian and I'm a little surprised.

7 minJonjo Shelvey is a good player, don't get me wrong, but he won't do half the job Lucas would have done cutting out City attacks in the final third. Big loss for the Reds.

4.05pmManchester City's star striker Sergio Aguero, missing through injury, has just tweeted this: "Recovery is going great. I'm at home now ready to watch @MCFC and root for them every second. C'mon, City!!"

4 minThe Brazilian goes straight down the tunnel and I'll let you know the moment I hear of more details. Back to the action and City are starting to find their feet as Balotelli, Tevez and Nasri link up nicely.

3 minBad news for Liverpool fans as Lucas, who missed last season through injury, is going to have to come off. Jonjo Shelvey is already being readied.

1 minEarly shot from Gerrard that is dragged harmlessly wide following a poor header back towards goal from City. Anfield is rocking early on.

1 minAndre Marriner gets us underway!

3.59pmCity are said to be starting with a 3-5-2 formation, with Zabaleta, Kompany and Kolo Toure at centre-back. James Milner and Alexander Kolarov are the wing-backs. We're just about ready to go and let's hope it's a good game after the borefest at Stoke earlier!

3.58pmCity's exciting frontline will be thinking that they can surely get at Liverpool's makeshift back four. Glen Johnson is at left-back while Coates is likely to be nervous on such a big stage.

3.56pmAfter a brief standoff in the tunnel, the players emerge and we're minutes away from the off.

3.54pmOoh err, the nets at Anfield are red. Will it make Liverpool score more goals? The Kop will hope so.

3.52pmWant to see this afternoon's full lineups? Course you do, click here.

3.46pmSky Sports have just shown an interview in English with Carlos Tevez. The Argentinian says that he is happy to stay in England despite all the problems of the past.

3.44pmRoberto Mancini has again rested David Silva, with Samir Nasri again starting behind the front two.

3.41pmElsewhere for Liverpool, Sebastian Coates gets a rare start alongside Martin Skrtel at centre-back. Charlie Adam isn't even on the bench (move away?).

3.39pmIndependent journalist Sam Wallace has just tweeted this: "Striking similarities between the young lives of John Barnes & Raheem Sterling: born Kingston (Jamaica) - school in west London - LFC." Interesting.

3.37pmRodgers tells Sky Sports News that teenager Sterling has been really impressive and has "matured" during pre-season.

3.36pmTEAM NEWS AHOY! Mario Balotelli starts for City in the absence of the injured Sergio Aguero, while for the hosts Brendan Rodgers hands a start to 17-year-old winger Raheem Sterling.

3.35pmOk then, it's the last match of the second weekend of the new season and it's been pretty good so far right?
ID:41989: cacheID:41989:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:29705:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Nuri Sahin
Read Next:
Sahin "proud" to play for Liverpool
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
2Arsenal32225575264971
3Liverpool32218372314171
4Aston Villa33196868491963
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham33139115258-648
9Chelsea31138106152947
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32127134651-543
12Fulham33126154951-242
13Bournemouth32119124757-1042
14Crystal Palace3289153754-1733
15Brentford3388174758-1132
16Everton3298153248-1627
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3379174258-1626
18Luton TownLuton3367204670-2425
19Burnley3348213368-3520
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3237223084-5416


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!