No winner in Birmingham this Saturday, between Aston Villa and the outgoing champions (1-1).
Manchester City missed the opportunity to temporarily take the lead in the Premier League by being held in check by Aston Villa (1-1), Saturday, for the 6th day. A new goal, the 10th in 6 days, from Erling Haaland was not enough. With 14 points, the Citizens are no longer ahead of Tottenham, winner of Fulham (2-1) and whom they will face next Saturday, only on goal difference and they are one length behind Arsenal who will challenge Manchester United on Sunday.
The opportunity was however great, against the 19th at kick-off – and 17th after this draw – to mark its territory and strike the spirits. When Haaland only had to push an offering from Kevin de Bruyne to the bottom (1-0, 50th), not many people saw victory and first place slipping away from them.
The Villans believed in it
But Steven Gerrard’s men believed in it, playing all the crumbs left to them by the yellow and black machine. And on one of them, Leon Bailey, with a dazzling recovery, punished City (1-1, 74th). A good reminder for the defending champion that he also built his domination of the last 5 years on his rigorous defense, not only on his attack, as amazing as it is.