Liverpool improved its impressive Premier League table lead to nine points with a 2-0 win over defending champions Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.
[ MORE: JPW’s player ratings | 3 things learned | Pep reaction | Slot reaction ]
The loss extends the career-high winless run of City boss Pep Guardiola to seven games and, more pertinently, his fifth-place team’s gap behind Liverpool to 11 points.
A Sunday for statement results
Arne Slot has improved already-strong Liverpool significantly and his Reds are absolutely, indubitably the favorites to win the Premier League in his first season in charge, while Pep Guardiola can no longer imagine his Manchester City side’s slump is a fluke. Both of this things, if not certain before the match, were etched into cement following these 90 minutes at Anfield. Liverpool ran City wild in the first half, and Virgil van Dijk’s Man of the Match performance — aside from a silly late giveaway — headlined a Reds side that controlled the game despite the late-arriving absence of Ibrahima Konate. That winning mentality did not leave Liverpool along with Jurgen Klopp, and so they’ve adopted the new ways of Slot in victorious fashion. Guardiola’s City, on the other hand, may not be able to rescue their season because January is so far off, and Pep Guardiola’s lack of answers for Rodri’s season-ending injury and Mateo Kovacic’s shorter-term absence have to sting the legendary boss. Ilkay Gundogan could only do so much, Rico Lewis was pretty one-dimensional, and Kevin De Bruyne didn’t have the fitness to enter the game prior to it being, essentially, lost. Guardiola has earned the reputation of an answer man, but his answer likely requiring a new purchase is certainly a disappointment.
What’s next?
Liverpool go to Newcastle at 2:30pm ET Wednesday, then visit Everton at 7:30am Saturday.
City host Nottingham Forest at 2:30pm Wednesday, then go to Crystal Palace at 10am Saturday.
How to watch Liverpool vs Manchester City live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 11am ET, Sunday (December 1)
Venue: Anfield — Liverpool
TV Channel: USA Network
Streaming: Watch live online via NBC.com
Liverpool vs Manchester City final score: 2-0
Cody Gakpo 12', Mohamed Salah pen 78'
Liverpool vs Manchester City live updates — By Nick Mendola
Full time — Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City
Statement win. And a statement loss.
Man City subs
Kevin De Bruyne — just into the game — steals the ball off Van Dijk and bids to nutmeg Caoimhin Kelleher, but the Irishman makes the save.
It was KDB and Jack Grealish in for Phil Foden and Rico Lewis minutes earlier.
Salah exits in the 84th minute for Curtis Jones.
Still 2-0 Liverpool.
Liverpool penalty — Mo Salah goal — Liverpool 2-0 Man City (78th minute)
Another bag giveaway by City, and a charging Stefan Ortega takes down Diaz.
Ortega says he got a piece of the ball and he may have just, but VAR does not agree with the goalkeeper.
Mohamed Salah slams home the penalty.
Liverpool subs
The goal scorer Gakpo exits in the 73rd minute for Darwin Nunez, while Trent Alexander-Arnold exits for Jarell Quansah.
Ortega saves Gakpo
Stefan Ortega has backed Pep Guardiola’s bold move to plug him into the lineup for Ederson.
That’s his third save of the game.
Doku making a difference
Whether driving forward, shuttling the ball around space, or drawing fouls, Doku is changing the game in his first few minutes.
Man City subs
Guardiola lifts Ilkay Gundogan and Matheus Nunes for Jeremy Doku and Savinho.
Attack, it is.
Did Mohamed Salah just miss that?!?
Bernardo Silva’s slow back pass to Akanji is picked off by a pressing Mohamed Salah.
He’s racing with a teammate toward Ederson but Silva closes down the pass.
Still you’d expect Salah to make it 2-0. Nope. The Egyptian fires over the goal!
Still just 1-0, 57'.
Early Man City corner, Liverpool counter with vigor
Better from City to start the second half, and Alexis Mac Allister concedes a corner near his goal.
Ilkay Gundogan’s service is popped into the air by the head of Manuel Akanji, but Caoimhin Kelleher collects it.
Liverpool go the other way in a hurry. Szoboszlai sends Gakpo toward goal but a sliding Akanji denies him.
Van Dijk heads a corner over the goal.
1-0 Liverpool, 52'.
Halftime — Liverpool 1-0 Man City
What a half from Arne Slot’s men, who will feel they should have a multiple goal advantage at Anfield.
City need changes but it’s mostly attackers on the bench. Maybe Kevin De Bruyne is fit for an entire half? Perhaps Matheus Nunes exits for Savinho, Jack Grealish, or Jeremy Doku — the latter two coming off injuries?
The Reds have shaded possession and are bossing shot attempts and xG. They just need more the same with finishing, though replicating the first half could give them the 2-0 win so common to Slot’s debut season.
City’s first shot, just off
Rico Lewis works a 1-2 with Haaland, but scuffs a low shot across goal that misses the far post from about 15 yards.
Better from City in the 40th minute, but that was their first shot attempt.
City yet to record a shot
Possession is 52-48 for the hosts, who have seven shot attempts in the first half-hour.
City have not attempted a shot, and are being run ragged.
Pep Guardiola would love it to be halftime. It’s the 32nd minute.
Van Dijk just misses from corner
Liverpool corner kick.
Virgil van Dijk rises and clobbers a header that bounds low past the post.
Then Matheus Nunes loses possession and Alexander-Arnold drives into the box to feed a Gakpo chance floated over the bar.
Should be 2-0, remains 1-0 in the 19th minute.
Cody Gakpo goal! Liverpool 1-0 Man City (12th minute)
In response to our previous question, “No.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold sprays a gorgeous diagonal pass over a sea players to an onrushing Mo Salah.
The Egyptian works toward goal and slides the ball through the six to Gakpo for a back post tap-in.
Liverpool all over City
Ortega again has to deny Szoboszlai, this time with a low left hand, as the Reds are coming at City in waves.
A corner kick follows, and Liverpool snap a header off the far post and out.
Can the champions stay dry?
Reds with the first chance and first proper chance
Stefan Ortega makes an early save on Cody Gakpo, but the flag is up as Luis Diaz jumped the gun in a bit at any rebound and got in the way of the keeper.
Ortega then made a save on Dominik Szoboszlai through traffic. Liverpool are buzzing about with the ball early and this is an unqualified storm for Guardiola’s City to weather at Anfield.
Here we go!
Kickoff at Anfield, where the Reds look to build a wild 11-point lead after 13 weeks!
Lineup notes
Pep Guardiola says Ederson was not dropped due to poor performances, but Stefan Ortega gets a big call in his place between Manchester City’s goal posts today. The midfield looks like it wants possession over power, and Manuel Akanji seems likely to be in the half-Rodri role.
Arne Slot surprises as well, opting for Joe Gomez over Jarell Quansah at center back while Darwin Nunez starts on the bench as Luis Diaz will be the center forward aiming to give City fits.
Liverpool lineup
Kelleher, Robertson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Diaz, Salah, Gakpo
Manchester City lineup
Ortega Moreno, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Lewis, Gundogan, Nunes, Bernardo, Foden, Haaland
Liverpool team news, focus
The main team news for Liverpool is that Conor Bradley is struggling after coming off with a hamstring injury against Real Madrid in midweek. Luckily for Liverpool, the timing of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s return from injury is perfect as he is set to come straight back in at right back. Ibrahima Konate is out for a bit with a knee injury so Jarell Quansah or Joe Gomez could come in alongside Virgil van Dijk at center back. Up front it will be intriguing to see if Darwin Nunez starts or Cody Gakpo comes in, while Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have both been on the scoresheet in the last two games and are pushing each other hard to start in central midfield. There is great competition for places wherever you look in this Liverpool team, while they have some key players (Alisson and Jota in particular) set to return from injury over the next week.
OUT: Kostas Tsimikas (other), Alisson Becker (thigh), Diogo Jota (chest), Ibrahima Konate (knee), Federico Chiesa (other) | QUESTIONABLE: Conor Bradley (hamstring)
Manchester City team news, focus
With John Stones suffering an ankle injury and Mateo Kovacic also out, Guardiola has lost his two main contenders to start in the holding midfield role in Rodri’s absence. Manuel Akanji could perhaps start there for this game with Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake at center back. City’s balance has been off and they have a lot of key players just returning from injury and they look rusty individually and as a collective. Kevin de Bruyne is set to start and City need him to have a big day and bring calmness to their play.
OUT: Rodri (knee - out for season), Oscar Bobb (lower leg), John Stones (ankle), Mateo Kovacic (undisclosed) | QUESTIONABLE: Jeremy Doku (thigh)
Liverpool vs Manchester City prediction
This is always a wild game and given how high the stakes have been ramped up, especially for City, there is going to be an incredible atmosphere at Anfield. Liverpool have looked suspect defensively on the counter and Man City may play things a little differently than their usual style to try and get at them. The big difference this season is Arne Slot’s style of play is similar to Guardiola’s approach, so this is going to be all about who can control the tempo of the game in midfield. It will balance out. Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City.
