In a thrilling Sunday encounter at Liverpool, John Stones unexpectedly found the net for Manchester City. However, despite his goal, a 1-1 draw left Pep Guardiola’s side unable to claim the top spot in the table.
Stones capitalized on Kevin De Bruyne’s corner in the 23rd minute, rewarding City’s early dominance. Yet, shortly after halftime, Alexis Mac Allister equalized from the penalty spot, setting the stage for a fiercely contested second half.
The draw extended Manchester City’s unbeaten streak in all competitions to 21 games. However, they now sit third in the Premier League standings, amidst a tightly contested title race with Liverpool and Arsenal.
Arsenal, currently leading on goal difference, share the top spot with Liverpool, both clubs on 64 points. Meanwhile, Manchester City, aiming for a historic fourth consecutive league title, trail closely behind with 63 points.
Reflecting on the match, Stones, whose goal marked his first of the season, acknowledged missed opportunities: “We had quite a lot of chances early on in the game and maybe could have been two or three up.” Despite the disappointment, he emphasized the difficulty of facing Liverpool at Anfield and the resilience required to compete.
Manchester City’s record at Anfield under Guardiola remains challenging, with only one Premier League victory to their name. However, despite failing to secure a win in this intense encounter, they remain well-positioned to challenge for the top spot.
Acknowledging the toughness of the opponent, Stones highlighted the need to focus on the positives and strive for consistency in the upcoming fixtures. As he aptly put it, “We know what a top side they are… We’ll have to take the positives out of today and move forward and try and go on a nice run.”
