Gabriel Jesus cancelled out a Mohamed Salah penalty but Kevin De Bruyne missed a spot-kick as heavyweights Manchester City and Liverpool played out an entertaining 1-1 draw.
The champions, fielding a four-man attack, took an early lead in a gripping Premier League contest at the Etihad Stadium when Salah struck after a foul by Kyle Walker on Sadio Mane.
City responded with a fine goal from fit-again Jesus but De Bruyne spurned the chance to put them ahead when he fired wide from 12 yards before the break.
At that point, Mark O'Haire's pre-match advice to back under 3.5 goals looked unlikely to pay out after such a helter-skelter opening to the contest, but a more sedate second period ensured it did so with little threat to either goal.
The point means Liverpool dropped from first to third over the course of the weekend, overtaken by Spurs and Leicester, while City remain in mid-table.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp had made a bold call by fitting the in-form Diogo Jota into his side alongside the feared front three of Salah, Mane and Roberto Firmino, and gave them all equal license to attack.
Playing in what appeared a 4-2-4 formation, the visitors went straight onto the front foot. They created a chance within the opening minute as Firmino raced in on goal from a long ball but Ederson just did enough to put him off.
That set the tempo for the opening stages and Liverpool were rewarded for their aggressive and positive start with a penalty after 13 minutes.
There were few complaints when Craig Pawson pointed to the spot after Walker – derided as “an idiot” after the challenge by TV pundit Roy Keane – clipped Mane. Salah made City pay the price by smashing home from the spot.
City levelled just before the half-hour mark as De Bruyne fed Jesus with his back to goal. The City striker, starting for the first time since September, beat Trent Alexander-Arnold with a clever flick and turn and then poked past Alisson.
De Bruyne drove wide from distance moments later and then had an even better chance to put City ahead when City were awarded a penalty before the break.
After a lengthy VAR review that involved Pawson going to the monitor, Joe Gomez was adjudged to have handled as he tried to pull his arm away from a De Bruyne cross. Liverpool contested the decision but escaped damage as De Bruyne rolled his shot wide.
The second half began at the same breathtaking pace with Andrew Robertson and De Bruyne having shots saved at either hand.
Jesus then had a glorious chance from a Joao Cancelo cross but put a free header wide.
Liverpool suffered a blow after the hour when Alexander-Arnold dropped to the ground injured. He was replaced by James Milner and he may now be doubtful for England next week.
Perhaps inevitably, the frenetic pace dropped in the latter stages and both sides had to settle for a point.
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