Doku raises the temperature as Liverpool try to freeze out City

FOR a team with one of the most destructive and dazzling attacks the Premier League has seen, City funnelled an awful lot of their attacking play against Liverpool down one side.

- TYRONE MARSHALL

Erling Haaland was the goalscorer again, Julian Alvarez missed one excellent chance and Phil Foden came close to scoring, but it was when Jeremy Doku received the ball that a freezing cold Saturday lunchtime threatened to heat up. His 11 completed dribbles were the most in a Premier League game for over two years.

But Doku was far from faultless. There was the odd foray inside into an area Liverpool wanted to send him, with possession lost.

For much of the second half it felt like City needed a second goal and Doku looked like the player to provide it. He created Alvarez's opportunity and another close-range chance for Haaland, but the failure of either player to convert meant Liverpool escaped with a point.

Doku's dynamic wing play is a major point of difference for City this season, however, and in a team that has become accustomed to control and structure under Pep Guardiola, his team-mates are letting the £55million winger run free and produce his moments of magic.

"He's a very good signing and he's been playing very well for us. Hopefully, we can keep going - keep learning and improving and help us win titles," said Bernardo Silva, who has played in a left-sided No. 8 role recently and combined well with Doku.