Liverpool have beaten Manchester City in a penalty shootout following an entertaining 2-2 draw in their International Champions Cup match at Yankee Stadium.
Stevan Jovetic put the Citizens ahead shortly after the break, before Jordan Henderson equalised for the Reds.
City then restored their lead with Jovetic's second of the evening, but Raheem Sterling curled home to send the match to penalties.
It was Liverpool who triumphed 3-1 in the shootout, after Manuel Pellegrini's side missed three of their spot kicks.
Find out how the action unfolded below.
Good evening and thank you for joining Sports Mole for live text commentary of the friendly match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Yankee Stadium.
We are just over two weeks away from the kick off to the new Premier League season and last year's top two sides will be hoping that they are ready to mount a title challenge over the next campaign. However, instead of a clash at Anfield or the Etihad, they meet tonight in New York City in the International Champions Cup.
PHOTO: The stage is set... #lfctour pic.twitter.com/DG00vJpf9w
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 30, 2014
MAN CITY XI: Caballero, Clichy, Kolarov, Boyata, Nastasic, Fernando, Navas, Zuculini, Milner, Jovetic, Dzeko
LIVERPOOL XI: Jones, Kelly, Toure, Coates, Enrique, Gerrard, Henderson, Allen, Coutinho, Lambert, Sturridge
Manchester City still have some of their best players who were at the World Cup missing, but there is plenty of experience in the starting XI this evening. Edin Dzeko and Steven Jovetic lead the attack, while James Milner and Jesus Navas are joined by recent signings Bruno Zuculini and Fernando in the midfield. Goalkeeper Willy Caballero also gets another chance to stake his claim for a first-team spot.
It's a familiar looking Liverpool team, with the likes of Steven Gerrard, Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho all starting. Meanwhile, Rickie Lambert starts upfront, while there also places for Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson in the midfield and Kolo Toure and Sebastian Coates at the back.
At the weekend both teams got their Champions Cup campaigns of to a good start. An early goal from Raheem Sterling saw Liverpool edge to a 1-0 win over Olympiacos, while Manchester City were on top form as they hammered AC Milan 5-1 in Pittsburgh. The winners of tonight's match will most likely win the group and play in the in the final next week in Florida.
YANKEE STADIUM: @MCFC media team arrive for this evening's clash with Liverpool #cityontour pic.twitter.com/YYuRm6cmuL
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) July 30, 2014
Who can forget the last time that these teams played each other. It was back in April at Anfield where Liverpool beat their opponents 3-2 to move five points clear at the top of the table. Raheem Sterling and Martin Skrtel had put the Reds two goals ahead, before a strike from David Silva and an own goal from Glen Johnson levelled the scores. With 12 minutes left Philippe Coutinho scored the winner for Liverpool, but by the end of the season it was City who were celebrating title success.
Let's take a look at tonight's venue, the Yankee Stadium, which is of course home to the New York Yankees. The ground was built to replace the original Yankee Stadium and opened in 2009. It is the second-most expensive stadium ever built after the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and the most expensive Baseball stadium. City actually beat Chelsea 5-3 here last year, so let's hope we can see a repeat of that kind of scoreline today!
Hello from Yankee Stadium! Our viewpoint tonight for Liverpool v Man City, 4pm PT on Fox Sports 1 pic.twitter.com/lFHO034532
— John Strong (@StrongMLS) July 30, 2014
PREDICTION: Last night I thought that we would see some goals from Manchester United's clash against Inter Milan, so I will try my best not to jinx this game! Manchester City will be high in confidence after their thrashing of Milan, but they will have to be wary of a Liverpool side with a strong squad at their disposal. I am going to go for a 1-1 draw, with Liverpool winning the penalty shootout.
We are still a few minutes away from the kick off, with the players still not yet out on the pitch. Just a reminder that if this game finishes in a draw, then it will be decided by penalties.
While we await the start of the match, it's interesting to note that these teams will meet in the Premier League on the third weekend of the season on August 25 in Manchester. The corresponding fixture will take place at Anfield on February 28, where each side will be hoping to be in the race for the title.
The players are finally making their way out of the tunnel and kick off now is just moments away.
KICKOFF! We are underway at Yankee Stadium!
Liverpool have got off to a bright start and some neat play on the edge of the box almost frees Sturridge. The ball eventually drops to Gerard, but his strike is well charged down and cleared by the defence.
The first shot on goal comes from Clichy, who bursts forward from right back. He is allowed to cut inside by Liverpool who are slow to close him down, but his final effort on goal is poor and goes well wide of the target.
It's a very open game at the moment and City come close twice in quick succession. Their first opportunity comes when Dzeko flicks a brilliant ball through for Jovetic, who is closed down before he can get a shot away, and soon after Dzeko curls in a strike from the edge of the box that is well gathered by Jones.
CHANCE! Man City have the first big opening of the match when Jovetic is picked out in the box from a corner, but he can only place his header over the bar.
CHANCE! The game has continued at a fast pace and it's Liverpool's turn to come close. Gerrard starts the attack with a fantastic cross field pass to Enrique. The Spaniard then picks out Coutinho just outside the box, and the midfidler takes a touch, before drilling a low strike just wide of the post.
SAVE! I don't quite know how Lambert hasn't found the back of the net! Sturridge shows good awareness to send Henderson free down the right, and the midfielder looks up to see Lambert in the middle. He then sits up a fine cross for the striker, but Lambert's header from close range is directed straight at Caballero, who sticks out a glove to keep the ball out.
It's end to end stuff at the moment and City break quickly with Jovetic seeing his cross into the box well cut out by Coates at the front post. Liverpool break immediately and Sturridge is unlucky not to pick out the run of Henderson.
CHANCES! City work two more decent openings, with Navas seeing his strike across goal saved by the keeper, before Milner fires an effort wide of the post with the aid of a slight deflection. Pellegrini's side are very much on the front foot at the moment.
One man who has looked lively so far is Jovetic, who scored twice against Milan at the weekend. He struggled with injuries in his first season at the club, but based on recent displays he certainly has a lot to offer the Blues.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Dzeko has the ball in the back of the net, but it is ruled out for offside. He was slipped clean through on goal and slotted confidently past Jones, but the linesman has made the correct decision.
City are seeing plenty of possession at the moment and they are moving the ball around extremely well. There is plenty of space for them to exploit at the moment, against a very open Liverpool.
It's all City at the moment and a fine move involving Jovetic and Navas almost ends with Dzeko scoring, but the Bosnian's effort is blocked. He then tries his luck from range moments later, but his shot takes a deflection and goes harmlessly through for Jones.
Again there is so much space for City to exploit and Navas breaks free down the right with Enrique caught high up the pitch. He drives forward into the box, before delivering a low cross into the middle that is met by Dzeko, but the striker's contact with the ball is poor and the chance goes to waste.
Liverpool haven't crafted a decent opening in some time, but they almost fashion a chance when Lambert gets in down the right and plays a low ball across the box, however the defence manage to clear before any of his teammates can arrive.
After such a frantic start to this match, the pace has definitely dropped off as we approach half time. It is understandable given that we are still in pre-season, and I suspect that we will see plenty of changes at the break.
The Blues are still on top as we approach the end of the half and Milner tries his luck from 25 yards out, with a strike that ends up flying well wide of the target.
HALF-TIME: Manchester City 0-0 Liverpool
No stoppage time is needed at the end of the first half, where it is goalless between Manchester City and Liverpool. The Premier League champions have been the better team, but they have not turned that domination into goals.
Liverpool probably created the best chance of the game when Lambert headed straight at Caballero. City will point to efforts from Jovetic and Milner as their best chances, but Jones hasn't been overly stretched in between the sticks.
There are bound to be a number of substitutions by each manager ahead of the second half, and I will make sure that you know of any changes as they happen.
One man who will be playing at the Yankee Stadium next year is David Villa, who recently signed for New York City. The newly formed MLS franchise will play their home matches here and it seems that the Spaniard is enjoying his time in the Big Apple!
At the amazing Yankee Stadium!!! @NYCFC pic.twitter.com/yWeK45fCM0
— David Villa (@Guaje7Villa) July 30, 2014
The players are back out on the pitch and the second half will be getting underway shortly. City and Liverpool have both made three changes each, and I will bring you confirmation of those as soon as I get them.
We are back underway at Yankee Stadium!
SUBSTITUTIONS: Liverpool have brought on Mignolet, Robinson, Johnson and Sterling for Jones, Kelly, Enrique and Lambert, while City have brought on Hart, Iheanacho and Sinclair for Milner, Dzeko and Caballero.
Hart is quickly called into action after Sturridge slides a ball into the box looking for Robinson, with the keeper charging off his line to make the save. It is the England number one's first appearances of pre-season and he will surely have a battle on his hands to keep out Caballero.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Liverpool (Stevan Jovetic)
City have broken the deadlock and it's no less than they deserve this evening. It comes when Navas bursts free down the right wing and whips a teasing delivery into the box. The ball then ends up hitting Gerrard at the front post, before falling kindly for Jovetic to slot home from close range in front of the keeper.
CHANCE! The Reds almost come up with an immediate response after the ball deflects kindly through for Coutinho, but Hart is out quickly off his line to block the Brazilian's strike, with the ball going out for a corner.
CHANCE! From the resulting set piece Sturridge rises highest to meet the delivery, but he can only direct his header over the bar.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool (Jordan Henderson)
Liverpool have equalised and it's a wonderful finish from Henderson. He is quick to react to a loose ball just inside the box, before curling a fine strike into the corner past the reach of Hart.
That goal has certainly lifted Liverpool's spirits and they are seeing much more of the ball. It is now City who are being pegged back inside their own half, with the Reds looking confident in possession.
OFF THE BAR! City should be back in the lead! Jovetic shows great skill to get the byline and he whips in a low cross that finds Zuculini inside the six-yard box, but the Argentine is leaning back as he strikes the ball and ends up hammering his effort against the bar.
SUBSTITUTION: Liverpool have made a change, with recent signing Can coming on for Allen.
GOAL! Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool (Stevan Jovetic)
Manchester City have retaken the lead and it's the second of the night for Jovetic. The striker was on hand to poke the ball into the far corner of the net, after a shot deflected kindly into his path. He is certainly sending a message to his manager with his displays in pre-season, and he has now scored four goals in his last two matches.
SUBSTITUTION: City make a double change, with Toure and Richards coming on for Clichy and Jovetic.
CHANCE! Liverpool are close to a quick reply yet again when Sterling picks out Coutinho just outside the box, before the midfielder side-foots an effort narrowly wide of the far post.
YELLOW CARD! Liverpool pick up the first booking of the evening, with Coates seeing yellow for a late challenge.
SUBSTITUTION: It's another double change and this time it's for Liverpool, who have brought Sakho and Lucas on for Gerrard and Coates.
Liverpool are still pressing for the equaliser, but they are leaving plenty of space for City to counter. The Blues nearly take advantage when Toure leads a charge forward, before finding Navas out wide, but the Reds get enough men back to deal with the threat.
Henderson has got himself into some good positions this evening and he does well to latch onto Coutinho's ball on the edge of the box. He then tries to touch the ball into the path of Sturridge, but gets far too much on the ball and the move breaks down.
GOAL! Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool (Raheem Sterling)
For the second time this evening Liverpool have drawn level! It's another fine goal, as Sterling latches onto Lucas's pass inside the box, before curling a finish past Hart and into the far corner. That's Sterling's second goal in as many games and it means that we look set for a penalty shootout if the score stays the same.
If there is going to be a winner then it looks like Liverpool will score it. They are pushing plenty of men forward, and look determined to grab the three points.
We are going to have two minutes of stoppage time.
Liverpool win a corner after Sturridge's curling effort is deflected over the bar, but they are unable to make anything count from Coutinho's delivery.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Liverpool have a goal disallowed right at the end of the match, when Sterling curls another wonderful strike into the corner. The replays show that he was onside and the Reds can consider themselves very unfortunate.
FULL-TIME: Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool
For the second successive night in the International Champions Cup, the match will be decided by a penalty shootout! It was a great second half and both teams have put on a show for the fans in New York this evening!
MISS! It's a bad start to the shootout for City, as Kolarov blasts his spot kick high over the bar.
MISS! I don't believe it! Sturridge misses his spot kick, with an identical effort to Kolarov's moments before!
MISS! We are still yet to see a penalty scored, as Toure sees his poor kick down the middle saved by Mignolet!
GOAL! We finally have a goal, as Can slots his effort into the bottom right corner, with Hart diving the wrong way!
MISS! Incredible! City have missed all three of their penalties! It's Navas who sees his attempt saved by Mignolet!
GOAL! Henderson makes no mistake with his penalty and Liverpool are now two goals ahead in the shootout!
GOAL! City finally score, as the 17-year-old Iheanacho confidently slots home!
GOAL! Lucas calmly slots home his penalty and the Reds have won the shootout 3-1!
Liverpool have won the penalty shootout and they are well on course to make the final of the International Champions Cup next week. Manchester United possibly lie in wait for them, and they will be encouraged by their showing this evening.
That's all we've got time for this evening. I hope you have enjoyed our coverage of tonight's action, in what was an entertaining match in New York. Until next time, goodbye!
Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
