Manchester City and Liverpool played out a 1-1 draw at Anfield, in Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp’s final meeting as Premier League managers.
City were hoping to win after Arsenal had defeated Brentford on Saturday night to go top.
But games at Anfield are always tough, even when the Reds have a weakened side.
City took the lead when John Stones turned in Kevin De Bruyne’s brilliant corner, with Nathan Ake pinning back Alexis Mac Allister to create the space.
Liverpool found an equaliser in the second-half from the penalty spot, after Ederson brought down Darwin Nunez.
The Brazilian was sold a short back pass by Ake, and he then clattered the Liverpool man for a stonewall penalty. Following the challenge, Ederson had to go off with Stefan Ortega replacing him – and City legend Nicky Weaver praised the German’s performance…
Nicky Weaver praises Stefan Ortega for his performance for Manchester City against Liverpool
Ortega played around 34 minutes after replacing Ederson at Anfield, and the 31-year-old gave a pretty good account of himself.
Anfield was boisterous yesterday, and it cannot have been an easy game to come into. But there was no drop-off in quality after Ortega replaced Ederson, and the German made a few good saves, including one from point-blank range from Nunez.
Ortega ensured City left with a point and after the game, former City goalkeeper Weaver praised him.
He said on Matchday Live: “I thought he came on after Ederson’s injury and thought he did terrific. Two or three really good saves. He was calm in possession. I think the big save he made was when Robertson whipped it in behind, and Nunez was there, it looked like he was going to score. He spread himself, and that’s a massive save and earned City a point.
“I thought he did fantastic.”
Weaver added that he thinks that Ortega is ‘as good a number two as you’ll get’.
Ortega brilliant against Liverpool
It was a worrying sight seeing Ederson trudge off, but Ortega’s performance at Anfield was top.
It would have been a very difficult game to come into given its frantic nature, but £55,000-a-week star Ortega looked calm from the moment he took up position. As Joleon Lescott said after the game, the stopper was just nice and ‘composed’.
He used the ball well, and of course, he made some great saves to keep City in the contest.
There is no doubt he is a fantastic back-up, and if Ederson is now out for an extended period then the drop-off will not be too big for City. Of course, it would be a blow to lose a world-class goalkeeper, but Ortega has shown that he is a more than capable deputy.
