Manchester City hit FOUR at Anfield to all but end Liverpool’s title hopes as Alisson howlers gift Pep Guardiola’s side two-goal lead after Mo Salah had equalised… with Ilkay Gundogan netting a double and Phil Foden scoring a late screamer
Manchester City tightened their grip on the Premier League top spot after netting four goals against Liverpool
Ilkay Gundogan missed City’s best chance of the first half after blazing his penalty high over the crossbar
But the midfielder soon made up for the mistake after tucking the leaders in front with a close range finish
Mohamed Salah fired Liverpool level on 63 minutes with a penalty of his own following Ruben Dias’ mistake
Gundogan struck again after Alisson’s poor attempted pass and superb work from the impressive Phil Foden
Another poor error from goalkeeper Alisson then allowed Raheem Sterling to tap in the third at the back post
Foden then ensured a spot on the score sheet after cutting inside and lashing through the red-faced Alisson
Probably. Not yet, of course. But one day soon, surely. Manchester City are in rare form right now – equal to the best of any team in the history of English football – and here was the emphatic win that confirmed their dominance in this strangest of seasons. What once looked open, is now as good as closed.
There may only be five points between City and the team below, but that will stretch to eight if they win their game in hand at Everton next week. And City are better than Manchester United, we know that. City are on a run of 14 straight wins that has only been matched by Preston (1892) and Arsenal (1987), and are doing it without Kevin De Bruyne or Sergio Aguero.
Liverpool, not Manchester United, were seen as their prime challengers, the only team with the mental strength and consistency to match such a run, if they could win at Anfield and feed on that energy. This debate, however, was settled across 45 minutes on Sunday.
The first-half was disappointing. The second, a rout. Liverpool cracked, City were rampant. Yes, they were aided by two horrible passing errors from Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson – his aim wasn’t true, for those who know their Elvis Costello – but that does not dent the merit and manner of this victory.
City missed a penalty – again – or it could have been won by more. By the end, Liverpool looked toasted, exhausted, their race run. It is not just about the ten points that separates them from City now. It is seeing Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy back for Tottenham and Leicester, Chelsea’s resurgence under Thomas Tuchel. A single point keeps Liverpool from dreaded fifth place. They are in a fight to play Champions League football next season, let alone reel in Sunday’s victors.
This was Liverpool’s third consecutive home defeat in the league. The last time that happened She Loves You by The Beatles was number one. A teenager from Belfast, called George Best, made his debut for Manchester United. It was September 14, 1963. John F. Kennedy was still America’s president. These are historic events.