Sergio Aguero helped Manchester City avoid a damaging home defeat by Liverpool with an impressive equaliser in a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The result leaves the defending champions nine points behind leaders Manchester United, although Liverpool looked well capable of inflicting a loss that would have left the deficit in double digits.
Liverpool’s former City youngster Daniel Sturridge cancelled out an Edin Dzeko effort, refusing to celebrate after scoring the first goal City had conceded this year, before Steven Gerrard fired the visitors ahead from 30 yards.
Aguero salvaged a point for City 12 minutes from time after Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina inexplicably chased him to the edge of the area, giving the Argentine the opportunity to chip over his head and into the open net from a difficult angle.
Dzeko’s 23rd-minute opening goal had come somewhat against the run of play, but it was the Liverpool equaliser, six minutes later, that provided the biggest bone of contention in an absorbing game.
The first Liverpool goal stemmed from a City attack that broke down after Dzeko fell under a challenge from Daniel Agger, prompting home players and supporters alike to appeal for the visitors to put the ball out of play.