MANCHESTER — Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai set each other up for goals as Liverpool controlled Manchester City 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
WATCH – Manchester City v Liverpool full match replay | Player ratings
The Reds may’ve well put clamps on the Premier League title without spending much time on the ball, as Arne Slot’s men kept City from producing much danger despite giving up two-thirds of the ball.
MORE — Three things JPW learned at the Etihad | Player ratings
The win boosts Liverpool 11 points clear of second-place Arsenal and 20 beyond the fourth-place Citizens, whose 44 points are above Newcastle on goal differential.
Van Dijk, Salah lead at both ends for Liverpool
Liverpool have a new boss on the sidelines but it’s the bosses at both ends of the pitch who are driving this title fight. Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah were simply sensational and the reason that the Reds took down Man City on Sunday (Well, Liverpool’s reason — Erling Haaland’s absence definitely helped). Salah is having one of the best attacking seasons in Premier League history, and Sunday found him influential in how he helped teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold when the right back was in trouble on their shared side. Then there’s Van Dijk, who at one point was even directing Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker — no spring chicken — on the pitch. The Dutchman was phenomenal, aerially dominant with eight headed clearances amongst his game-high 17 defensive actions.
What’s next?
Man City go to Spurs at 2:30pm ET Wednesday, 45 minutes before Liverpool kick off at Anfield against Newcastle United.
How to watch Manchester City vs Liverpool live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 11:30am ET Saturday (February 23)
Venue: Etihad Stadium — Manchester
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Manchester City vs Liverpool live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright at Etihad Stadium
Manchester City vs Liverpool final score: 0-2
Salah 14', Szoboszlai 38'
Both sides sub
City bring on Ruben Dias, Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan on for Ake, Gonzalez, and Marmoush.
Liverpool remove Diaz for Cody Gakpo.
2-0, 78'.
Liverpool subs
Jones and Robertson exit for Wataru Endo and Kostas Tsimikas in the 74th minute.
De Bruyne off and McAtee on
Kevin de Bruyne gets a standing ovation as he comes off. McAtee is on. KDB clearly isn’t fully fit. He looks frustrated as he sprints off the pitch.
Ederson denies Diaz
Luis Diaz cuts in from the left and drills a shot towards the top corner. Ederson flies to his left and tips it over. Decent shot. Decent save. Corner to Liverpool.
Momentum swing after that disallowed goal?
Right away Marmoush is played in and his shot across goal is tipped wide by Alisson. Top save. The home fans are on their foot now. Can City use the momentum swing from Liverpool’s goal being disallowed?
Curtis Jones thought he had made it three... but he’s offside
That is so easy. Gravenberch plays in Szoboszlai, who is wide open, and he slots in Jones to finish. Brilliant midfield running from Liverpool. Awful defending from City. But hang on. VAR is checking for offside. Szoboszlai was just off. No goal. It’s still 2-0. Huge roars go up from the home fans here.
Diaz denied after Salah’s superb ball
Mohamed Salah is on another level.
City’s bench also looking strong
Said it about Liverpool’s bench in the first half warming up, but now it’s City’s bench that is warming up on the sidelines. Grealish, Dias, Silva, McAtee and Kovacic. Not bad either.
We’re underway for the second half
No changes for either side and there’s plenty of quiet chatter among the home fans. Most are probably saying “get one early and we’re back in this” and City are pushing...
Half time: Manchester City 0-2 Liverpool
66 percent possession for City but it’s Liverpool who lead 2-0 and they’ve been clinical. Salah with a nice finish after a lovely set-piece routine and he then did so well to set up Szoboszlai to slot home. Once again the Egyptian King has been supreme. He’s the difference and Liverpool’s fans are going wild in the away end.
“Liverpool top of the league!”
That is the song from the away fans here at a rainy Etihad. They are in dreamland. Salah has scored one and created another. Liverpool are cruising and their fans are loving it. City continue to dominate the ball but just don’t look anywhere near as dangerous as Liverpool do when Salah gets on the ball. As it stands Liverpool going 11 points clear of second-place Arsenal, albeit they will have played a game more.
Szoboszlai tucks home after magic from Salah — Manchester City 0-2 Liverpool
Salah is played in down the left and puts it on a plate for Szoboszlai who tucks home. Brilliant control and vision from Salah. Excellent calm finish from Szoboszlai.
Liverpool’s bench is strong
Looking at the Liverpool players warming up in front of me here at the Etihad, and my word that is a strong bench. Jota, Nunez, Chiesa, Endo and Tsimikas all going through their paces. So much experience and quality there. Arne Slot will be pretty happy, not overjoyed, with how his team have played. But most importantly for them, they lead.
Marmoush scores... but he’s offside
Omar Marmoush has the ball in the back of the net with a calm finish across goal but he was offside. Lovely play from Foden and Lewis to create the chance. That is much more like it from City. They’re knocking at the door.
Doku again whips in a cross
Doku has beaten Alexander-Arnold three times already and whipped in a cross to the near post. Each time Liverpool, usually Konate, clear. City obviously missing Erling Haaland massively in these type of situations. Nobody attacking the near post.
Foden and Marmoush staying high central
Both teams are playing without a proper striker as Foden and Marmoush are drifting into central roles. Szoboszlai and Jones are doing the same for Liverpool.
Doku beating Alexander-Arnold so easy
Huge gasps again as Doku breezes past Alexander-Arnold. It’s so easy for the Belgian but his cross into the box is cleared again. Imagine if Haaland was in there...
Salah gives Liverpool the lead! — Man City 0-1 Liverpool
A brilliant set-piece routine. Mac Allister plays it to the near post to Szoboszlai and he superbly flicks it around the corner for Salah to finish. Way too easy from Man City. Majestic from Liverpool. Huge groans here among the home fans at the Etihad. The away end is going bonkers. They know how big today is.
Khusanov denies Salah on the counter, then Diaz almost gets in
Salah got away from Ake down the right but Khusanov gets over well on the cover and slides in to tackle. Perfect timing from the young defender. Liverpool looking dangerous on the counter now. Then City give the ball away on the right and Diaz is on the left but takes too much time.
Doku has been lively early
Jeremy Doku has started really well on the left. A lovely flick gets him around Alexander-Arnold but his cross is cleared. City looking to get it to him as often as possible. The Belgian is up for this today. Huge gasps around the stadium when he pulled off that stunning piece of skill.
False nine for Liverpool
Looks like Luis Diaz is on the left with Dominik Szoboszlai playing up top in a false nine role. Mohamed Salah in his usual role on the right. Curtis Jones is also playing very high. Intriguing.
Huge roar when De Bruyne’s name read out
Kevin de Bruyne is back in the City team and he’s skipper. A huge roar goes out from the home fans as De Bruyne’s name is read out and he come sup on the big screens.
Jones on the left? 4-1-4-1 for City?
All of the talk here at the Etihad in the press room is about the formation for City and who is actually going to be on the left for Liverpool. Curtis Jones seems the most likely but he will slot inside. Maybe Diaz will stay out on the left and Jones or Szoboszlai will play as a false nine? As for City, it looks like all-out attack with Nico Gonzalez as the holding midfielder and then Doku, Foden, De Bruyne and Gundogan ahead of him and Marmoush up top. No Erling Haaland on the bench after his knee injury.
Welcome to blustery Manchester!
Hello and welcome to east Manchester for what is always a big game but it is particularly today. Liverpool have a chance to almost put another hand on the trophy. Man City want to remind Liverpool that they will be back next season and make a statement. Given City’s midweek defeat at Real Madrid we will expect to see a reaction from Pep Guardiola’s side.
👋 Welcome to blustery Manchester for Man City vs Liverpool!
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) February 23, 2025
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Manchester City lineup
Ederson; Lewis, Khusanov, Ake, Gvardiol; Nico; Savinho, Foden, De Bruyne, Doku; Marmoush
Liverpool lineup
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Jones; Diaz
Manchester City team news, focus
City’s defensive issues continue as John Stones was forced off early against Real Madrid, while Erling Haaland’s knee issue is a big concern. Pep Guardiola believes Haaland’s issue isn’t major, but he didn’t play against Real in midweek and is a huge doubt for this game. That means Marmoush will likely start up top with Foden and others buzzing around underneath him. Kevin de Bruyne’s fitness remains a concern too, as he also didn’t feature away at Real. Gvardiol against Salah will be a heck of a battle down that flank.
OUT: John Stones (thigh), Rodri (torn ACL - MORE), Manuel Akanji (muscular) | QUESTIONABLE: Erling Haaland (knee), Oscar Bobb (fitness)
Liverpool team news, focus
Arne Slot has very few injury issues but he does have a bit of an issue in attack trying to figure out who to start. Salah is guaranteed but after that it’s a bit of a guessing game at the moment. Gakpo has been missing through injury, while Jota, Diaz and Nunez are all struggling for a bit of confidence. The rest of Liverpool’s side picks itself but defensively they are looking vulnerable on the counter and have coughed up two goals in each of their last two away games.
OUT: Joe Gomez (thigh - MORE), Conor Bradley (unknown) | QUESTIONABLE: Cody Gakpo (knock)
Manchester City vs Liverpool prediction
This feels like it will be a very tight, tense game and neither team will be able to have the control they usually enjoy. After midweek games for both expect the tempo to be a bit lower and even with their injuries, that may suit City slightly better. Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool.
Manchester City vs Liverpool preview
Pep Guardiola’s City were dumped out of the UEFA Champions League in the knockout phase round on Wednesday by Real Madrid, as Kylian Mbappe tore them to shreds in the Santiago Bernabeu. Guardiola lost Erling Haaland to injury for that game and Kevin de Bruyne is also struggling with fitness as City’s injury-hit and tumultuous season took another turn for the worst. In the Premier League they’ve been in great form, winning three of their last four, and there’s a chance they’ll move up to third place with a win against old foes Liverpool.
Liverpool dropped two more points in the title race in a 2-2 midweek draw at Aston Villa and cracks are starting to show consistently for Arne Slot’s side. They could’ve easily lost the game late on too and Slot admitted he was ‘not happy’ with the draw but they were happy Arsenal lost at home to West Ham unexpectedly before this game. Mohamed Salah continues to work his magic but all of a sudden we could have a very tight title race.
