Reigning champions twice came from behind in a 2-2 draw away to
Liverpool that denied Brendan Rodgers his first Premier League win as
Reds manager on Sunday.
Martin Skrtel went from hero to villain in the course of an exciting
match at Anfield, heading Liverpool in front before his loose back-pass
set up the goal for Carlos Tevez that saw City make it 2-2 ten minutes
from time.
A much-improved Liverpool, shock 3-0 losers to West Bromwich Albion
last week, took the lead when Skrtel powered in a header from Steven
Gerrard’s 34th minute corner.
But City, who came through a see-saw clash to beat newcomers
Southampton 3-2 in their league opener, were level in the 63rd minute
when Yaya Toure capitalised on the failure of Liverpool’s Martin Kelly
to clear a Tevez cross.
However, parity lasted for just three minutes until, following a Jack
Rodwell handball, Liverpool striker Luis Suarez curled the ensuing
20-yard free-kick round the wall and beyond the despairing dive of City
and England goalkeeper Joe Hart.
But Argentina striker Tevez, with his 100th goal in English football,
drew City level again in the 80th minute when he seized on a stray
back-pass from defender Skrtel and then calmly rounded Pepe Reina before
slotting home.
Earlier, Arsenal failed to score for the second league match in a row
following the departure of star striker Robin van Persie to Manchester
United as they were held to a goalless draw away to Stoke.
“It is not good enough,” Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta told News men after the Gunners second straight 0-0 stalemate.
“We had some really good chances but at the moment we are not taking
them. The same thing happened last week.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was pleased by his side’s defensive
performance but said he was looking to bring in more players to the
London club before Friday’s transfer deadline.
“I’m pleased with what I have, but yes, I anticipate that we will do
something still,” Wenger said. “We are still in the market. Defensive
midfielder, it depends on the quality of the players available.”
The Frenchman’s Stoke counterpart, Tony Pulis, said: “It was a good
result, (but) there are things we are not happy with and can do better.
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