City show great fight against rivals with huge motivation

MANCHESTER City showed they are ready to fight all the way for a record Premier League title after battling to a draw at Liverpool.

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI

There were animals spotted on the M62 on the way to Liverpool on Sunday morning and it certainly looked wild on the touchline at Anfield when Kevin De Bruyne went at Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff after a second-half substitution that the Belgian didn't appear to agree with.

All involved are adult enough to brush off such behaviour as the attitude of winners, and even if he didn't appreciate it at the time, De Bruyne will have watched on as the changes helped City get a draw that could have escaped them.

City took the lead in this game and had chances to win it themselves, but at the end of another absorbing and gruelling contest they will absolutely take a point that keeps them right in contention for the biggest prizes. Liverpool will take confidence as well, although having roared back into the game they could not capitalise enough to take the win.

There are so many places that matches between these teams could start, but let's go with Trent Alexander-Arnold's comments about Liverpool's trophies 'meaning more. He's as entitled to believe it as he was silly to say it in public ahead of another edition of a rivalry that has been full of unnecessary antagonism, and while it may not be true, Liverpool had far greater motivation to win Sunday's game than City did.