Liverpool goalscorer Trent Alexander-Arnold says 1-1 draw with Man City ‘instills belief’ that his side can challenge for the title… despite admitting the Reds ‘did not play particularly well’ at the Etihad

• Alexander-Arnold earned side a late equaliser after his side went 1-0 down early
• Erling Haaland reached 50th Premier League goal in just 48 games for Man City
• Look how Villa rebounded from a 5-1 loss… they’re dangerous! It’s All Kicking Off 

Trent Alexander-Arnold earned his side a late point after drawing 1-1 with Man City at the Etihad. 

Speaking after the match, the right-back admitted his side ‘did not play particularly well’ against the title holders, though believes the result ‘instills belief’. 

The hosts took an early lead through a signature Erling Haaland strike, firing his team into the lead just over halfway through the first half. 

Liverpool continued to challenge City, though throughout the match it did look as though it may swing in Pep Guardiola’s way as the Spaniard opted to make no substitutions.

Alexander-Arnold admitted ‘it’s funny’ celebrating in front of away fans after he scored late on

Ruben Dias believed he had sealed the score at 2-0, though was ruled out for a foul on Alisson

Trent Alexander-Arnold battles it out with Erling Haaland during the match

The scoreboard stayed at 1-0 for the majority of the match before it ended in shared points

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It seemed as though Ruben Dias had sealed the deal when he poked in a clumsily-defended corner, but the goal was swiftly ruled out due to a foul on Alisson.

Into the second half, Liverpool came out fighting, with the visiting side looking close to scoring on numerous occasions.

Despite neither side finding a winner, Alexander-Arnold admitted: ‘We haven’t had too many good results here in general. We take the point. It wasn’t an amazing performance from us at all. There were positives – we had our chances to win the game.

‘I don’t think we played particularly well – first half especially. Their formation and the way they set up really challenged us. They had a lot of bodies in there, difficult to play against. 

On half-time: ‘We regrouped at half-time, came out with a bit more of a game plan and to press them. It’s always difficult, just subconsciously when you play Man City you’ve got a lot of respect for the team and the way they play, automatically you think you can’t get tight to the players and you stand off them and that seemed to be the problem in the first half.

‘Second half, we put that respect to the side and thought, ‘let’s go for it, we have to get a result’ – and that’s what we did’, the right-back added.

‘The way they broke us down was through the sides rather than through us and likewise. It wasn’t really a game for penetrating through the middle. They had a lot of bodies in there, shift the ball well, it’s difficult to get near them.

The Liverpool number 66 coolly slotted home an equaliser in the 80th minute to earn a point

Liverpool ensured they left Manchester with a point after netting a late leveller in the match

Jeremy Doku stepped in for Jack Grealish who was left out due to illness for Man City

‘Second half we were a lot better, we had our chances and took them.

On being man-marked, Alexander-Arnold suggested that he was being tightly monitored in midfield: ‘There was potentially a game plan to stop me from getting the ball, at least that’s what it felt like, especially in the first half. 

‘Just a little bit of man marking, I think Bernardo [Silva] was very close to me a lot when I was pulling inside. I could be completely wrong but I’m pretty sure that was the game plan, it felt like that. 

On scoring the goal: ‘It’s always good to celebrate in front of away fans. You get to see their faces and it’s funny.

‘There’s been many a time we’ve played better against Man City and lost the game. To come here and get a point is a good result and we needed it and it instils that belief. 

‘Team top of the league, if you can’t play well and still get a point against them, you’re doing something right. We dug in.

Liverpool host Fulham in their next Premier League match, while Man City face Tottenham at the Etihad as Ange Postecoglou’s side look to bounce back. 

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