The hope was that this highly- anticipated match would hit new heights. Instead it was just the ball that did that with Riyad Mahrez's shocking late penalty miss which went high, and not very handsome, into the Anfield Road stand to Liverpool's unbridled delight. Manchester City did not wear their usual kit but there was a sky blue ending as the ball sailed towards the heavens. Frankly it was not what record signings such as Mahrez are acquired for.
It meant City wasted the chance – at their 18th attempt – to record a first victory away to Liverpool since 2003. More positively they re-assumed the leadership of the Premier League but only on goal difference from Chelsea, and Liverpool, all locked on 20 points, as points were thrown away even if this was probably a fair result.
There was a kerfuffle over the penalty – not the award, which was correct, after Virgil Van Dijk brought down Leroy Sane in the 86th minute as the City substitute shaped to shoot having run on to David Silva's cute pass – but over who would take it.
With Sergio Aguero off the pitch and appearing unhappy at being substituted it was his replacement Gabriel Jesus who first collected the ball. Except manager Pep Guardiola over-ruled and called Benjamin Mendy over to the touchline to inform Jesus to give the ball to Mahrez. The Brazilian was not pleased.
"He had the courage and the balls to take the penalty," Guardiola said of Mahrez, even though the £60million signing from Leicester City has missed five of his last eight spot-kicks.
The churlish would argue that was not the only apology needed after these two free-scoring sides did not score a single goal and did not even register a shot on target until Mahrez's effort was easily fielded by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker on 62 minutes.
It is true that this encounter was nothing like the four meetings last season – in the Premier League and the Champions League – which yielded 18 goals but that was also due to the clear mutual respect that exists between these two teams and their managers. In fact Guardiola paid Jurgen Klopp the ultimate compliment by – again – doing what he vowed he would never do and modifying his dominant approach to acknowledge Liverpool's threat.
City 'only' had 51 per cent possession, the lowest they have ever registered under Guardiola, and that was partly a deliberate tactic to break the intensity of Liverpool's pressing game and spread play wide. Interestingly the City centre-backs, John Stones and Aymeric Laporte, split with goalkeeper Ederson even encouraged to pass the ball across his own six-yard area to try and negate the threat of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.
Given that Liverpool's most impressive performer – along with Jordan Henderson – was their centre-half Dejan Lovren then it was evident that defences were on top. Lovren was all the more impressive given this was his first league start of the season.
Even so he may have been fortunate not to concede a first-half penalty when he was played into trouble by Joe Gomez – uncomfortable at right-back as he replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold – who shanked a clearance back into his own area where Aguero seized on the ball. Lovren clumsily challenged, Aguero went down but it was only his team-mates who appealed as he quickly got back up.
Referee Martin Atkinson was unmoved then and was unmoved in the second-half when City again claimed a penalty as the ball struck Van Dijk's arm from a corner – only for the official to award a free-kick against Fernandinho who had his arm across the defender. Nevertheless Guardiola was not pleased and was also angered by Henderson's response to a late, high tackle by Aguero. Words were exchanged, with the two managers also talking – albeit amicably – as this keenly-contested match remained on the sharpest of knife-edges.
For Liverpool there is relief that they have come through a demanding set of fixtures – including Chelsea away last weekend and a midweek Champions League away match against Napoli – and there were encouraging signs in that Salah was more threatening.
The result means they have also collected 10 consecutive clean sheets at home and are now unbeaten in their last 25 Premier League matches at Anfield – the best run in the division even if the stadium was not as intense as it has been when these two sides usually meet. The stakes are getting higher.
The only downside for Liverpool, apart from not gaining the victory, was the first-half loss of James Milner to an apparent hamstring injury.
No-one could fault the endeavour. Both teams, both managers, wanted to win and all the substitutions were positive. The defending was formidable but no buses were parked and Mahrez probably went closest in open play also when he sent a low shot across goal and just beyond Alisson's far post.
For Liverpool Salah superbly took a long ball from Andrew Robertson in his stride but could not find the accuracy to chip Ederson and the opportunity went begging. Just as it appeared it would peter out Liverpool lost possession and City countered to win the penalty. Then came Mahrez's astronomical miss which was so dramatic that it seemed to affect both sides who, nevertheless, remain unbeaten in the Premier League.
"It was a penalty. Very happy we did not concede."
"I was celebrating that we got a penalty. I was not taking any notice of who was going to take it. It is something we sort out between the boys."
If true, a blot on Pep Guardiola's copybook: surely as a manager you'd consider the eventuality that your first choice taker is off the pitch and plan accordingly?
Souey on the other hand: "comes down to who fancies it on the day, courage". He says that it's fair enough for the players to decide "who is having a good day." Seems ludicrous to me, but there you have it.
if there's anything interesting about that pen choice, in the meantime, here's Jason's match report.
That's it. Only one moment of any real note, Mahrez grabbing the ball for the pen and then launching it into Bootle. With a bit of luck, Souey will now say that Mahrez should be flogged.
But they cannot really fashion a chance as such.
Liverpool seen energised and inspired by that. They steam forward.
Mahrez steps up. He has missed three of his last five penalties, some of his teammates have a word with him before he takes it, not sure that has exactly helped his composure. Looks like Jesus was about to take it, but Mahrez has insisted.
Mahrez has absolutely spooned it. It's a shocker! Dear me. Way over.
Obviously Aguero is off the pitch so the team (the captain?) had a decision to make. If Mahrez is NOT the designated second choice, he has got some explaining to do. Hard to say for sure in the fog of war, but Jesus looked pretty annoyed to be told that Mahrez was claiming it. You'd think this is the sort of thing they'd decide beforehand?
Well, the recriminations for that should sort out the post-match debate.
I think Riyad Mahrez now owes Manchester City some money.
Fernandinho has karate chopped Mane in the throat! Amazingly the ref gives nothing.
Gomez, who is having a useful game, bombs down the flank and crosses for Sturridge, who has recently come on in favour of Firmino. Sturridge gets up for the header but cannot get any power on it.
I had barely noticed Firmino.
Lovren flings out an arm and hits Jesus in the face. He gets away with that. Lucky.
Allisson earns his corn! Sterling slides it through, and there is a shot across his bows. He saves that, and gets up quickly to stop the follow-up from the other side of the goal, that one from Mahrez. Corner. Easily dealt with.
That's Sterling's last action. Leroy Sane is on for him. Sterling booed off.
We (fans, the meeja, the telly, the people who market the Premier League) all want a proper rivalry between two clubs. This ain't it, yet. We have not had the same team win the League for two seasons running for ten years. In the last three years, six different sides have occupied the top two places. Maybe for a rivalry to really develop we need two big boys at it season after season. From 1997-1998, once the Newcastle hopes sputtered out, Arsenal and Man Utd duopolised the top two places for four straight years.
This is not exactly pre-millennial United v Arsenal, is it?
Liverpool play it quick. Goalie. To left of midfield. Drilled forward to Salah. He surges forward and smashes it... way over. Last season, does that go in?
Mendy booked for manhandling Salah.
Gomez down the right, Fernandinho wrestles him to the floor. Not exactly a thing of beauty. Freekick comes to noddalodd.
Aguer.... no. He's getting the hook. Ten times he has played at Anfield, total 700 minutes. Total goals: zero goals. What a curious gap in an otherwise relentlessly impressive CV.
Sterling has lost his man, Gomez, who gets down the right. He finds Salah, who takes his time... and curls his shot... straight slap at the keeper.
Mahrez again, this time he's down the right, but he cannot decide whether to go near post or across the keeper and hits it right at the keeper.
It's City who are in the ascendency now. Silva threads it through to Mahrez, who hares onto the ball, and drags a shot wide. It is coming for City?
Fernandinho has a shot so wide and woolly that I am embarrassed to even call it a shot.
Man City enjoying slightly more of the ball, with 472 touches to 442 from Liverpool.
Sergio Aguero goes in the book. He was violent to the person of Jordan Henderson.
Mahrez with a nice run, gets round the back, tries to cross, but good old Virgil VD has read him and clears expertly. First rate read of the game.
This is getting better as an entertainment product.
And here's something! Liv get down the left and drill the ball in. City bundle it clear, but Liverpool come again. They're turning the screw.
Half a half a chance! Reds down the left, cross: it's near both Mane and Wijnaldum but not quite near enough to either one.
All Liddypool thus far in the second dig.
"Liverpool need their first XI out. City have a better squad but Liverpool's first XI firing at 100mph can compete with them," says Gary Neville, who feels that Liverpool have blundered with their team selection today.
Right then, eyes down for round two.
A three-game Super Sunday always puts big pressure on the final game, whoever it is. Football-watching fatigue should be recognised by science as a thing.
Liverpool started with a really high tempo but City got a handle on the situation after the first 15 and neither side has created anything much to speak of.
Shane O'Leary, on the other hand, has created not only some cheese on toast but also an email: " Springing to life is a nice idea, but maybe Der Kloppsters and Apple PLC have also had a traditional Sunday lunch of cheese on toast washed down with quite a lot of cider? Here's to that second pint, sorry, half. Cheers, Shane."
Klopp runs up the tunnel as soon as the whistle blows. Perhaps he needs eine kleine gegenweewee.
This game has had little to recommend it so far, I won't lie to you. Still, every chance that it will burst into life after HT.
Man City managed just a solitary, off-target shot in the first half.
Bernardo Silva, who is walking the line, fouls Henderson but Referee Atkinson does not produce la carte jaune.
42. Closing stages of a tense first 45 minutes.
What can we do to turn this possession into a goal?
Pulling teeth this, for my money. Completely failed to grab my attention in any way. They half time will be all about a penalty claim.
Liverpool and Man City are evenly matched in attack so far - the home side have fired in two shots to the visitors' two.
That's the nicest move so far, Sterling and David Silva with a clever, cute interchange. Liverpool just cut it out. But it is the home side who are feeling the pressure at the moment.
Man City's escape from the Liverpool press has been to stretch the game to the full width of the pitch (Sterling, Mahrez). You have to keep the ball well to do that safely, and City can.
The visitors have their first shot of the game, in reply to two so far from Liverpool.
Alllisssssson's distribution has been mince. Dunno if that is common for him or not.
Fernandinho and Mané tangle, and then clash. Tangle & Clash, an 80s buddy cop movie with Stallone and Kurt Russell IIRC.
That is a big blow for the Reds. He has had a heavy workload recently, the veteran Milner.
The biggest, bestest game in the world ever is a damp squib.
Everyone's running around like billy-o, and I'm sure they're all tremendous athletes and it is an intriguing tactical battle etc etc etc, but we have yet to have any shots or really any football of note. There's a delay because James Milner is hurt, and Naby Keita is coming off.
First booking of the afternoon as Bernardo Silva scythes down Salah.
Penalty shout! And it looks a decent one as Aguero goes down in the area under contact from Lovren. Lovren looks as guilty as a puppy sitting next to a pile of poo, as Blackadder's George had it.
When a central defender stops playing because he's looking at the referee, you can be pretty sure that it's a penalty.
Couple of corners for City. This game played at 100mph.
Sterling, his every touch booed, drives forward and wins a corner. This too is dealt with.
Kompany, meanwhile, looks forlorn. Liverpool have a couple of corners but they are not especially threatening.
Guardiola, slumped in his chair, looks a little shell-shocked. Liverpool have gone for the jug and City have given it away far too easily.
Mendy with a goal-saving intervention as Mane skips past Bernardo Silva, stands the ball at the back post. Mendy nicks it away from Salah.
City under the pump here! They've given it away again and Liverpool break in numbers, four runners, but Mane sadly for them messes up the control of the pass.
Mendy gives it away. And here is a break from Salah, he comes deep to get it himself, he bursts through. There are unacceptable gaps between the MCFC centre-halves. Salah is through but shoots wide.
Liverpool on the front foot early on, but a very good counter attack from MCFC fires a warning shot across their bows: Mahrez is sent clean through, but was a yard offside.
Quite why Manchester City are not wearing their blue shirts I am not sure. This lad knows better.
is with Gurreh and Carra.
Will we have something to measure up to the 4-3?
The Atmosphere is building here @ Anfield. The players are in the tunnel.
Former Reds all over the place!
"There's always a huge question mark over Pep against Klopp, particularly against Liverpool. How attack minded will he be?
Any other game he'd roll the same team out and would win. The fact it's against Liverpool and at Anfield means there's a number of questions over it. And until he goes to Anfield and gets a result we'll keep talking about it."
"I don't think this pitch and this atmosphere will suit Stones, the pace that he plays at."
Souey on Kompany being left out: "He is still their best defender. He has a presence that the others do not have. I am surprised."
He has left out Trent Alexander-Arnold, and gone instead for the more experienced Gomez. "You have to say that Alexander-Arnold's strengths are going forward at the moment, and he is still a baby in footballing terms."
"We have worked hard all week on our defence and I think that should allow us to express our attacking talents."
Some wonderful talents on display. Pep had said in the build up that he is "scared" of Liverpool's front three.
Klopp: "I can imagine [that Guardiola is scared of our front three] because we can be scary on our day. But I could write a song about the quality of the Man City players."
Guardiola: "The quality of the players, the manager, the club: when you make a mistake they will score. That is one of the best teams in the world."
on the emerging rivalry between these two sides.
Liverpool: Alisson, Gomez, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson, Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Mane. Subs: Fabinho, Keita, Sturridge, Mignolet, Shaqiri, Matip, Alexander-Arnold.
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Mendy, Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, Silva, Mahrez, Aguero, Sterling. Subs: Danilo, Kompany, Sane, Otamendi, Gabriel Jesus, Foden, Muric.
Arsenal fans were thrilled by their team's five-goal heroics in the noon kick off today. Manchester United produced a stirring comeback in their match yesterday. Chelsea, at time of writing, have the lead over Southampton. Talented sides all. But it is to these two teams, Liverpool and Manchester City, that most judges have turned in the search for the identity of this season's champions. Jurgen Klopp has got the good vibes flowing in Liverpool, but he must surely know that it is Pep Guardiola's side who remain the men to beat in this season's Premier League.
We will have the team news for you shortly. If you are a betting man or woman then we have some offers for your consideration here.
Here are Jurgen and his lads arriving at Anfield for the match.
And here are their visitors also pitching up in Liverpool.
Both of these sides are on 19 points although Manchester City have a significantly superior goal difference, of 18 plays 12. But which set of players will be celebrating come about 6.15pm tonight?