A crunch clash with Liverpool has ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw, ensuring Manchester City have kept their slender lead on top of the English Premier League.
Billed as a crunch game in the title race, City have kept a one-point lead over the Reds with seven fixtures left to play thanks to Sunday’s result.
Kevin De Bruyne fired City into a fifth-minute lead but Diogo Jota levelled eight minutes later.
Gabriel Jesus restored City’s advantage before the break but Sadio Mane marked his 30th birthday with a second equaliser for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Raheem Sterling thought he had put City ahead for a third time against his former club but VAR ruled against him in a tight offside decision and substitute Riyad Mahrez hit the post late on.
“I think we had the upper hand but we didn’t win. That can happen but this is the way we need to play the rest of the games,” City’s De Bruyne told Sky Sports.
“I know we conceded two goals but I thought we played excellent. The quality and intensity was there (of both sides).”
The result ended Liverpool’s ten-match winning league run.
Reds manager Jurgen Klopp compared the game to a prize fight with both sides seeking the knockout blow.
“It was a great game and the right result. The result we have to live with it, and can live with it,” he told Sky Sports.
“We will not stop chasing (for top spot). That’s clear but now we have two different competitions before we start the Premier League again – then see who has the better finish.”
Meanwhile, goals from Pierre Lees-Melou and Teemu Pukki helped reinvigorate Norwich’s slim survival hopes with a 2-0 home win over relegation rivals Burnley.
The Canaries – ten points from safety before kick-off – on Sunday clinched their first EPL victory in nine attempts.
Bottom club Norwich remain in a perilous position but at least have kept 18th-placed Burnley within touching distance and dealt a serious blow to the visitors’ own chances of beating the drop.
In other results, Bryan Mbeumo and Ivan Toney combined to sink West Ham 2-0 and surely banish any lingering relegation fears for Brentford.
The second-half goals lifted the Bees 12 points clear of the EPL drop zone.
For West Ham it was another dent in their fading hopes of a top-four finish.
They were also dealt a potentially massive blow ahead of Thursday night’s Europa League second leg against Lyon after defender Kurt Zouma limped off midway through the first half.
And Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall inspired Leicester to a narrow 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.
The midfielder’s first EPL goal came after a sublime assist for Ademola Lookman’s opener to give the Foxes the perfect preparation for Thursday’s trip to PSV.
They go to Eindhoven for their Europa Conference League quarter-final second leg with the tie poised at 0-0.
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