Martin Skrtel gifted Carlos Tevez his 100th goal in English football and helped Manchester City to rescue a point away at Anfield. His inadvertent back pass to Pepe Reina was underhit, allowing Tevez to round the Spanish stopper with ease before slotting into the empty net. Mancini gave his experimental 3-5-2 formation a real challenge, starting with three central defenders in Kompany, Kolo Toure and Zabaleta. It resulted in five changes from the home victory against Southampton the previous week. In came Kolarov, Kolo Toure, De Jong, Milner and Balotelli at the expense of Clichy (who was excused to be at the birth of his child), Lescott, Rodwell, Silva and the injured Sergio Aguero.
City seemed to start brightly with Tevez leading the way, giving Liverpool youngster Martin Kelly a torrid afternoon. City were comfortable but the warning signs were there, Raheem Sterling crossing to find an onrushing Fabio Borini who could only sidefoot wide. At the other end Carlos Tevez almost scored an outstanding solo effort from a tight angle that seemed to take an age to trickle along Reina’s goal line before hitting the far post, much to the derision of Mancini, who lambasted his strikers for not anticipating the chance. Had they made a run they’d have scored the easiest goal of their career, passing into an empty net.
Liverpool took the lead when the impressive Skrtel powered a header past Joe Hart from a Steven Gerrard corner. City went into the break lucky to still be in the game, an unusually high level of poor passing being their downfall. Even after the break City struggled to break down the stubborn Liverpool backline. A large slice of luck saw City equalise. City’s brightest spark Tevez outmuscled debutant Sterling before floating a dangerous cross into the area. Reina came to collect but found himself grasping at thin air, the ball bouncing back off the unprepared Martin Kelly allowing Yaya Toure to swivel and hit a left-footed volley into the gaping net.
City’s lead didn’t last long. A hugely contentious free kick was awarded to Liverpool after a powerful Gerrard shot seemed to bounce up off the sliding Jack Rodwell’s knee onto his hand. Nevertheless, Suarez finished superbly, curling his shot around the wall and into the bottom corner, past a despairing Joe Hart.
Liverpool were in control of the game and it took Skrtel’s awful backpass to allow City back onto level terms for a second time. The Slovak was pressed well by substitute Edin Dzeko forcing him to make the backpass unsighted. Tevez had anticipated the pass, collected gratefully before rounding Reina and bagging his third goal in as many games.
Dzeko had the chance to steal all three points for City but could only steer his effort over, at the other end it took an excellent Rodwell header to prevent Andy Carroll from extending his excellent form against the sky blues.
In the end City will be grateful for their point and will see it as a point gained, rather than two points lost. Up next is QPR at home for Mancini’s men. We all remember what happened the last time Mark Hughes and his team were in town but Mancini will be hoping for a boring 2-0 win. If City’s games continue in this tense, breathless way, City fans’ health will have deteriorated by Christmas.
Player Ratings:
Joe Hart – 6
He could do nothing to prevent Skrtel scoring but questions were raised over the placement of his wall for Suarez’s goal. Will be looking for a clean sheet in the next game.
Pablo Zabaleta – 7
Back to his warrior-like best this week. Performed well playing in a central defensive position that he isn’t used to. Excellent in the air.
Vincent Kompany – 7
Like Zabaleta he had to be back to his best to cope with Suarez who didn’t have a sniff at goal until his free-kick.
Kolo Toure – 6
It was a surprise to see Lescott watching from the bench. Toure dealt with Sterling well but his decision making was often poor and got caught in possession on numerous occasions.
Aleksandar Kolarov – 6
The man is an enigma. One minute he’s executing an outrageous nutmeg on his own byline, the next he’s watching the man he was supposed to be marking, Skrtel, head, unopposed, past Joe Hart.
James Milner – 7
He gets a lot of stick from neutral but watching him week in, week out, you can see how much his work rate helps the team. Rumours of a bust-up with Mancini are hopefully exaggerated; he did well on the right hand side, helping out defensively.
Nigel De Jong – 7
I hope rumours of Nige’ heading for the exit prove to be false. His passing was crisp and got us out of trouble on numerous occasions. He prevented Gerrard from bossing the midfield. Impressive on the whole.
Yaya Toure – 8
I thought he had a slow start at City but now he’s the first name on the team sheet. He is at his most devastating when pushed further forward as shown by his vital goal.
Samir Nasri – 5
Last week he was outstanding, this week, I forgot he was playing. One through ball to Tevez was his only mark on the game before he was substituted. This is the issue with Nasri, he can be incredible one week and simply watch the game pass him by the next.
Mario Balotelli – 5
He was unplayable in the Euro 2012 semi-final against Germany. Against Liverpool he was back to his brooding, sulking self. He made some outstanding runs but the service to him was poor. He was substituted before his frustration level could get to boiling point.
Carlos Tevez – 9
He was our bright spark. He took his goal excellently and harried the Liverpool defence throughout. Was at his best dropping deep when Dzeko was brought on, collecting the ball and creating openings. He’s happy, Mancini’s happy, the fans are happy.
Subs:
Jack Rodwell – 7
Replaced the ineffectual Nasri and performed well, making a crucial intervention to stop Andy Carroll netting the winner. Was unlucky with the free kick awarded against him. Excellent prospect.
Edin Dzeko – 8
He only played a small amount but was hugely impressive compared to Balotelli. He held up the ball well, pressed Liverpool defenders and created City’s second equaliser. With Aguero sidelined through injury he’s making a real case to start City’s next game.
David Silva – 7
With every passing minute Silva plays you can see him getting the match sharpness he needs to be back to his best. He’s almost there.