'Football at its gripping best' - pundits react to Man City v Liverpool

It is lovely to be able to reflect back on a huge game of football and acknowledge that it ticked every box. We gave it the big sell and both teams rose to the occasion.

Skill, intensity, tactical brilliance - it had the lot.

The best part - these teams will play each other at least one more time this season.

There'll be more reaction on the site this evening and we'll be back with more live football - including Liverpool and Man City in the Champions League - in the week.

Enjoy the rest of your evening.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola to Sky Sports, on whether he agrees with Jurgen Klopp's assessment that it was like a 'boxing match': "Quite similar. He likes that. He likes his punching games.

"I think it is a good advert for the Premier League. It was a fantastic game and both teams tried to win. Liverpool is a joy to watch, I know the threats they have and how good they are. I think we performed really well and I'm so proud of my team.

"Now both teams know [there are] seven games left, you have to win or it will all be over."

On how the game went: "I think the second half was quite similar to the first half, except the first 10 minutes when you get a punch. We did really well and played really well. They are so compact and between the lines it is so difficult."

On why he chose to start Gabriel Jesus: "Gabriel deserves to play a lot because he is a fantastic person - they all deserve to play. Today, for the quality they have we felt we could find the spaces with these players. Maybe for next weekend we change something."

On the result: "It is what it is. At Anfield it was the same result, in a different way. I have a feeling we missed an opportunity [today] but it doesn't matter what happened, this is not over. I would say the same with defeat or victory. We know what we have to do. I don't know what is going to happen."

On Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: "I don't know if Jurgen respects me but Jurgen has to know I respect him a lot. He has made me a better manager. His team is always there, they are always aggressive. We are not friends, we never see each other, I have his number but I don't call him. I have respect for him, but he knows next Saturday [in the FA Cup semi-final] I am going to try and beat him."

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp speaking to BBC Radio 5Live: "In football it is very often like this, that you are not 100% after the game, you just make the next step. We made the next step in our development. In a lot of situations in the game, we deserved the result like City deserved the result.

"The intensity of the game was absolutely outrageous; I don't know how you top that. The League Cup final against Chelsea was 120 minutes of concentration; I didn't think football would go that far so I am really happy that we could cope we that. We improved from games in the past today; we are a different animal.

"We had to suffer, they had to suffer. We had momentum, they had momentum. It was two heavyweights facing each other; take your arms down and you get a massive knock in the middle of your face. It was a good game."

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola speaking to BBC Radio 5Live: "I'm really happy with the way we played. We played well first half, it was tough for 10 minutes in the second half but that is normal when you concede. They have quality and a lot of threats, but we performed well. It is football, these things happen. How many managers say, 'in the last minutes, we can't concede', we can concede until the referee blows the whistle.

"Yellow cards, red cards, VAR, these things happen. Everybody enjoyed it; City fans, Liverpool fans all around the world; that is the best platform for the Premier League. All the players showcased the Premier League in the right way.

"I'm in love with Riyad [Mahrez]; he is an incredible player and person. today, we thought we needed a different quality up front. We will need him until the end."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp speaking to BBC MOTD: "It was an exceptional game of football. Two heavy-weights, chomping at each other. It's crazy the intensity. A completely different level. The concentration levels from both teams...

"What I liked the most was that in all situations we caused them problems and I felt we made a step in that department. I am happy. Would I have wanted to win the game? Yes. We have to win an awful lot of football and that doesn't change. If there was one we could draw, it was today. We keep going.

"We will use the game. I'm already in the Benfica game but of course we will try to understand the moments. City were more direct than usual and we were less. We will see what they do next time and us. It's really fine for today.

"It was a proper football game. If you played for another club, played yesterday, won it, trained today then watching City vs Liverpool. I don't know what I would have done to watch it but to be a part of it... I cannot stop being surprised. I love it. Let's keep going and see where we end up."

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola to BBC MOTD: "It is what it is. Against that team it was almost impossible. You have to play these types of games. We are top of the table still so we have a feeling that we miss a huge opportunity to make a stamp but there are many games left.

"You are a manager for these types of games of course. The way we play these teams with those threats up front... They are incredible. With our courage of play and the chances we had, especially in the last minute... We defended incredibly well and created a few chances. We go forward.

"I don't have any regrets. They can miss whatever they want. It was positive. It is football and it happens.

"We will relax a little bit then prepare for the Champions League."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp speaking to Sky Sports: "I think we can describe it as a boxing fight, both arms down for a second and you get a massive knock. I liked a lot of things. I thought we were closer than ever.

"The second half start was much better. City really tried obviously things like balls in behind. It makes sense when you have these smart runs. In moments when we tried to breath a little bit another one comes. It was a great game and the result, we have to live with and can live with.

"We could do better but in a lot of moments we did really well. The intensity of the game is crazy. It was good fun, I liked it."

On what he said to his players at half-time: "We showed [our] goal because it was a really good football situation which if we did more we would have chances. I was convinced we could win this game. They were much more direct than us today. They had a more direct idea than us and we wanted to let them run when in possession.

"Defensively we were sometimes in a rush, they put us under pressure and we can defend these situations better. The second half was really intense, they needed breaks as well, but their counter attacks are not bad. Their decision making is really good and they always pick the right player.

"I think it is a completely fine and deserved draw. We wanted to make sure they see my boys are exceptional as well.

"Seven games to go for both teams and we will not stop chasing now that's for sure. Let's make sure we are ready for Benfica, for this team at Wembley [in the FA Cup semi-final] and then we will see who will have the better finish."

You can say that again!

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson speaking to BBC Radio 5Live: "It was intense, which we knew it would be. There are positives to take, but mixed emotions. Getting a draw at the Etihad Stadium under normal circumstances isn't a bad result, but we wanted to come here and win the game to put the last games in our hands, unfortunately we couldn't do that. But we came from behind twice and showed great character, staying in the game. That is important; if they slip up, we have to be ready to pounce,

"We didn't settle into the game until they scored and that is disappointing. But we showed great resilience to come back, play football, get in pockets and hurt them. That is where [Jota's] goal comes from. We could have done that more, but we've found a way to keep going within the game and not lose. In football you never know what is going to happen.

"The big games come thick and fast; there is no time to dwell, you've got to learn from this and take it forward and prepare for Benfica."

Liverpool’s Diogo Jota and Man City’s Gabriel Jesus both found the net in this game and both kept up their records of never losing in a Premier League game when they score.

Jota is unbeaten in 33 matches (W27 D6) and Jesus in 45 (W42 D3), with only James Milner (54 games) and Darius Vassell (46) scoring in more without losing in Premier League history.

Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane speaks to Sky Sports: "What the teams are brilliant at is out of possession. That is the key for these teams. Even established international players can't deal with it because they are being put under pressure."

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota to BBC MOTD: "Very intense game. They are very good and playing at home. We tried to do our best but we felt at the end we could have done a little better. They had their chances and we had our too. We were fighting until the end.

"We tried to condition their game the way they wanted but they are obviously very good at what they do so it's not easy. You know sooner or later you can steal one or two balls and it's a football game so you need to take advantage of your chances.

"We were losing so we needed to change a little bit and it's nice to have a break to go again [at half-time]. We had a very good beginning. It's a draw in the end and now we need to believe from here until the end.

"That's why you play football for these types of games that are very important and very decisive. We wanted to win this game but it was not possible so we have to keep believing."

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher speaks to Sky Sports: "The performance from Liverpool not so much in terms of quality but their mentality to come out in the second half. They'd been given the run around in the first half. I don't think they did anything completely different. They didn't change. These teams believe in what they do and rightly so. To come out in the second half and match City, maybe do better, I was so impressed with both sides today."

You can only do what your opponent allows.

Liverpool might have set out to win this game and tried and tried, but they are up against the highest quality. Liverpool tried to win because what they are, Jurgen Klopp is not setting up to draw.

To win leagues or anything, you have to try to win every game. The opposition dictates how that goes.

Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane speaking to Sky Sports: "The quality, what impressed me with all these top quality players was their desire to keep going for their win at the end. No team was going to dominate for long spells as there is so much quality on both sides.

"Liverpool showed their character in the second half. But then City had great chances as well. A great reminder to us all of what this game is about."

Liverpool's Jordan Henderson speaking to Sky Sports: "It was an intense game which we knew it would be. We knew it would be tough but we wanted to give it everything and get the win. We couldn't do that but we didn't lose. It's not the end of the world, we are still in the race, so positives and negatives.

"I think we started OK but we were a little hectic at times. Of course we knew we would come under pressure early on, they are a fantastic team. I felt we settled down a bit and caused them problems. It's pleasing how we twice came from behind. We want to do better of course.

"You have to keep going, you have to be prepared to suffer. You have to stay positive, stay on the front foot and not give them time. It worked at times, at others we can defend better."

On whether Manchester City will be happier with the point: "We'll have to wait and see. They don't drop many points, we know that. We have to concentrate on ourselves and win as many games as possible. If they slip up we have to be there right behind them. We'll keep going until the end."

It is not often that everyone involved in a game of football - both sets of players, the fans of each side and every neutral - comes away from a game of football happy with the outcome.

Even the most blinkered of Man City and Liverpool supporters must know deep down that they've just witnessed two exceptional sides going toe to toe.

Sometimes, all you can do is sit back and bask in it.

That is certainly the tone coming across in the post-match reaction from players and managers.

Don't go anywhere if you want to read the best of it...