Doku involved at both ends as Liverpool and Manchester City share the spoils | first division

Everyone has felt it, the idea that Jürgen Klopp's departure at the end of the season will propel Liverpool to the first division title, the team and the fans ride a wave of emotion towards glory.

From the manager dropped the bomb At the end of January, Liverpool have hardly made a false step, apart from losing in the arsenal. Here, against Manchester City, they pressed as if their lives depended on it.

It was Alexis Mac Allister who lit the fuse at the start of the second half, scoring from the penalty spot to cancel out John Stones' opener for City midway through a first half that the defending champions had eclipsed.

It was a distillation of what Klopp has created in Liverpool – football that was full of energy, exciting to watch and where you could feel that you were somehow wishing for a winner. Liverpool have made decisive late goals a happy habit this season.

It didn't happen, City prepared to hit the post twice, first through Phil Foden (although he didn't know much about a ball that bounced off him) and then through substitute Jérémy Doku.

Liverpool would claim a penalty in stoppage time, first when Nathan Aké came in against Mohamed Salah and then when Doku threw a boot at Mac Allister. And, when it was all over, the first reaction was to marvel at the entertainment value, how these heavyweights had stagnated. Arsenal would have enjoyed the result and, ultimately, City would probably have enjoyed it too. Liverpool continues to believe.

It was certainly worth reflecting on Liverpool's early casualty list; They were 10 after Ibrahima Konaté was ruled out, and Klopp also deemed Andy Robertson and Salah fit enough only to start among the substitutes. City missed one player and only one player: Jack Grealish.

Klopp was without some big names, most notably Alisson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, and one of the manager's biggest decisions was to field Joe Gomez at left-back. Gomez against the in-form Foden was a standout matchup. There would be many others, Virgil van Dijk would win his with Erling Haaland.

On the Liverpool right, it was Conor Bradley against Julián Álvarez and the latter appeared during an early City explosion that had many markers. The champions were here to take care of the ball, to pass it through the lines towards Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva or towards Foden and Álvarez.

City could have scored before them, their approach laden with swagger and personality, some of their passing and movement pleasing to the eye, although when the breakthrough came it required a second thought. How was it that Stones were so open just yards from goal to take advantage of De Bruyne's low corner kick? It had partly to do with Aké getting in Mac Allister's way and also with Darwin Núñez's failure to track down Stones. What a time for him to score his first of the season.

Liverpool had their moments during a vibrant first half, none bigger than Dominik Szoboszlai's free header in the 32nd minute when he escaped from Harvey Elliott's floating cross. The Hungarian international had to generate power with the ball and his aim was wrong.

Bradley got into dangerous attacking space and Luís Díaz, who had the ball in the net in the 19th minute only for Núñez to be flagged offside in the build-up, deflected in from the edge of the area after a break from Kyle Walker.

City's fast start had seen Van Dijk make a significant challenge on Foden, Alvarez and De Bruyne worked with Caoimhin Kelleher and, between periods, De Bruyne missed the finishing move when on the left. It was neither a shot nor a cross from him. Walker crossed for De Bruyne in first-half stoppage time and the feeling was that City were more in control before the break. Stones exuded composure on the ball, moving from central defense to midfield, setting the tone.

Liverpool needed a break and they got it at the beginning of the second half, precisely thanks to a misplaced pass from City. Aké was the culprit, he thwarted his attempt to return to Ederson and saw Núñez steal. He moved away from the goalkeeper and was quickly cleared by him. It was the most obvious penalty of the season, the only surprise being that Ederson was left to face it because he appeared to have slipped and overextended his lower leg in the act of hitting the Uruguayan striker.

Ederson was booked and given extended treatment, meaning Mac Allister had to wait and wait. His punishment, however, was full of assurance. Liverpool took off. The local public sensed that this was their moment.

Guardiola was forced to withdraw Ederson and Foden worked with Kelleher closely, but Liverpool could feel the adrenaline rushing through them, especially when Klopp introduced Robertson and Salah. Díaz had given a strong touch when he was well positioned just before the changes. He now managed a pass from Salah only to miss the one-on-one against Ederson's replacement, Stefan Ortega; a lady with gold edges.

They were breathless moments, Liverpool creating chances, including another for Díaz when Núñez crossed. Once again his touch was poor, allowing Walker to make the saving challenge. Díaz's energy was irrepressible. Salah and Mac Allister had goal sights while Ortega blocked Núñez.

It was the kind of storm that Liverpool have unleashed so many times under Klopp and yet it broke and City stabilized and almost wiped it out. Guardiola sent on Mateo Kovacic and Doku for De Bruyne and Álvarez and his team almost regained the lead in extravagant fashion. Aké crossed, Kelleher put the ball into Foden and it flew against the crossbar. Doku thought he had won it when he cut inside and fired just inside the far post to deny him.