Manchester City used that momentum to thump Liverpool, 3-0, at the Etihad Stadium. The manner in which they did it was refreshing, built more on good role player synergy than highmnod glamour. City’s win brought them to within four points of league leaders Arsenal. In contrast, Liverpool slumped to a fourth consecutive loss away from home, harking back to the days of their struggles in the 2011-12 campaign.
City opened the scoring in the first half with an early goal from Nico Gonzalez. He just picked the perfect time to maximize a beautifully blacked play. After Gonzalez’s opener, Erling Haaland had a penalty saved, denying him again in his pursuit to add to his goal tally. Even with that chance spurned, City were still dominant in the match.
Jeremy Doku then doubled the lead with a stunning strike, leaving Liverpool in a difficult position as they attempted to respond. Liverpool looked a constant threat and created plenty of chances to score. Szoboszlai then fired an unstoppable shot from 25 yards, but City’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma smartly turned it behind the post. Even with a barrage of corners in the final five, Liverpool just couldn’t get it done. In fact, they failed to register even a single shot on frame the whole game.
Liverpool’s struggles were compounded when Virgil van Dijk had a goal disallowed for offside, an incident that sparked debate regarding its validity. The referee was awarded an additional seven minutes of stoppage time to work with. Yet that decision forced Arne Slot to ponder the wisdom of granting so much additional time.
Sky Sports pundit and former Manchester United defender Gary Neville described the performance as “leggy Liverpool” and “losing every single battle.” He’s not alone—many fans and analysts echo his worries. They argue that Liverpool’s home form is an unequivocal indicator that the club is not serious about competing in the league.
The match saw City’s Doku deliver a sensational performance, covering an impressive 70 yards on a break that led to a blocked shot from Cherki. City’s efficient play and Liverpool’s inability to capitalize on their opportunities highlighted the stark contrast in form between the two teams.