Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to nine points as Manchester City’s struggles deepened with a 2-0 defeat at Anfield on Sunday.
Cody Gakpo’s 12th-minute strike was a modest reward for Liverpool’s first-half dominance, with Mohamed Salah’s second-half penalty sealing an 18th victory in 20 league matches under Arne Slot.
Manchester City, now 11 points adrift of the leaders in fifth place, are winless in seven matches across all competitions, suffering six defeats during this torrid run.
Arsenal and Chelsea are Liverpool’s nearest challengers, while City’s grip on the title appears to be slipping after claiming an unprecedented four consecutive league championships.
City’s poor form continued from midweek, where they surrendered a 3-0 lead in the final 15 minutes to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League.
Guardiola’s Tactical Changes
Pep Guardiola made bold changes, dropping goalkeeper Ederson, while Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias were restored to the defence. However, the alterations did little to alter City’s fortunes as Liverpool overwhelmed them in the early stages.
Stefan Ortega made sharp saves to deny Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai, while Virgil van Dijk saw a header crash against the post.
City struggled to escape their own half in the opening quarter, and the breakthrough came as Gakpo turned in Salah’s inviting cross to the far post.
Van Dijk came close again with a powerful header that narrowly missed the target, as Liverpool continued to create chances.
City’s record at Anfield has long been dismal, with their only win since 2003 coming in the empty stadiums of the coronavirus-hit 2020/21 season.
City’s Struggles Continue
Guardiola’s men showed signs of life towards the end of the first half, with Rico Lewis poking their first effort on goal just wide. They began the second half more positively but remained vulnerable on the counter-attack.
Ortega thwarted Gakpo after an incisive Andy Robertson pass, and Salah missed a one-on-one opportunity, much to the frustration of the 60,000-strong crowd.
Liverpool’s decisive second goal came following another City error. Luis Díaz dispossessed Walker and surged forward before being brought down by Ortega.
Salah, having missed from the spot during Liverpool’s 2-0 Champions League victory over Real Madrid earlier in the week, made no mistake this time, slotting his penalty into the bottom corner for his 13th goal of the season.
Guardiola’s Frustrations
Guardiola brought on Jeremy Doku, Savinho, Jack Grealish, and Kevin De Bruyne in search of a response. However, City’s over-reliance on Erling Haaland was evident, as Van Dijk marked the Norwegian out of the game.
Van Dijk’s late error gifted De Bruyne a chance, but Caoimhin Kelleher produced a fine save to preserve Liverpool’s clean sheet.
In the closing stages, Guardiola was met with chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” from the Anfield crowd. In response, he held up six fingers to signify his six Premier League titles in the past seven seasons.
However, as things stand, both Guardiola and City seem to be living on memories of past glories, while Liverpool appear to be racing out of sight this season.