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The Etihad Stadium was rocking on Sunday afternoon as Manchester City cruised to a 3–0 win over Liverpool in the Premier League. What was expected to be a close, fiery encounter between two of England’s heavyweights turned into a frustrating afternoon for Arne Slot’s side, who couldn’t build on their midweek Champions League victory over Real Madrid. Despite some early promise and flashes of fight, the Reds were undone by a mix of missed chances, defensive lapses, and City’s ruthless finishing.
A Fiery Start at the Etihad
The match began at a blistering pace, with both sides looking to seize control early. Liverpool’s pressing caused some early discomfort for City, but it was the home side who had the first big opportunity.
A lengthy VAR review handed City a penalty after goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was deemed to have brought down Jeremy Doku inside the area. Erling Haaland stepped up with his usual confidence, but Mamardashvili made a brilliant low save to his left, keeping Liverpool alive and sending the away fans roaring in relief.
It felt like a potential turning point. For a brief moment, Liverpool looked ready to build on that momentum. However, City began to find their rhythm, and Haaland would soon make amends for his earlier miss.
Haaland Opens the Scoring
In the 29th minute, City’s patience and precision paid off. Matheus Nunes whipped in a teasing cross from the right, and Haaland met it with a powerful looping header that nestled perfectly into the far corner. Mamardashvili, despite his earlier heroics, could do nothing about it. The goal fired up the Etihad crowd and gave City control of the game. Liverpool tried to hit back quickly and thought they had done so when Virgil van Dijk powered home a header from Mohamed Salah’s corner.
But celebrations were short-lived. Andy Robertson, standing just offside, was judged to have interfered with Gianluigi Donnarumma’s view, leading VAR to rule out the equaliser. It was a cruel blow, especially since Liverpool had done everything right to create the chance.
Gonzalez’s Deflected Strike Doubles City’s Lead
As halftime approached, Liverpool looked eager to regroup and enter the break just one goal down. Instead, disaster struck again. In first-half stoppage time, Nico Gonzalez picked up the ball well outside the box and decided to have a go. His shot took a wicked deflection off Van Dijk, wrong-footing Mamardashvili and rolling helplessly into the net.
It was the kind of goal that summed up Liverpool’s luck on the day. Defensively, they weren’t poor, but every mistake or deflection seemed to hurt them. Going into halftime 2–0 down, Slot’s men faced an uphill battle.
A Positive Restart with Missed Opportunities
Liverpool came out in the second half with renewed energy. The introduction of Cody Gakpo and Milos Kerkez in the 56th minute gave them fresh legs in attack and on the left flank.
Just moments after coming on, Gakpo had a golden chance to change the game. Conor Bradley, who was bright throughout, sent a low cross to the far post. Gakpo stretched to meet it but sent his shot over the crossbar from close range. It was the kind of miss that can haunt a team. And Liverpool paid for it almost instantly.
Doku Seals It with a Moment of Magic
Jeremy Doku had been a menace on the left wing all afternoon, and his persistence finally brought a reward in the 63rd minute. Cutting inside from the flank, the Belgian winger curled a precise strike into the far corner beyond Mamardashvili’s reach.
It was a stunning finish and one that effectively ended the contest. City were three goals up, and despite Liverpool’s effort to push forward, there was no coming back. Slot made more changes late on, introducing Federico Chiesa and Joe Gomez in the 83rd minute, but by then the damage was done.
Szoboszlai and Salah Go Close
To their credit, Liverpool didn’t give up. Dominik Szoboszlai continued to drive the team forward, looking for openings, while Mohamed Salah tried to test Donnarumma with a few half-chances. However, City’s defense, stood firm. They kept Liverpool at arm’s length, limiting their shots to areas where Donnarumma was comfortable. It wasn’t a lack of effort that doomed Liverpool it was a lack of precision. Every half-chance went begging, and every defensive lapse was punished.
Tactical Notes: Slot’s Selection and City’s Press
Arne Slot opted for the same starting XI that had impressed against Real Madrid midweek. On paper, it was a strong side with balance across all areas. Mamardashvili continued in goal behind a backline of Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson, and Bradley. The midfield trio of Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, and Gravenberch was designed to control possession, while Salah, Wirtz, and Ekitike led the attack.
But against City’s relentless press, that setup struggled to gain composure. Rodri and Nunes dominated central areas, forcing Liverpool to play long balls that rarely reached their targets.
The introduction of Gakpo and Kerkez improved Liverpool’s link-up play, but by then, City had already found their rhythm. Slot’s men couldn’t match City’s sharpness in transition, and each turnover became a threat.
A Setback Before the International Break
The timing of this defeat will sting. Coming just before the November international break, Liverpool now have two weeks to reflect on what went wrong. After a strong run of results, including a statement win against Real Madrid, this performance felt like a step backward.
Still, there were positives to take. Mamardashvili’s penalty save showed confidence, Bradley looked bright on the right, and Szoboszlai continued to be a driving force in midfield. But defensively, the Reds need to tighten up, especially when facing teams that can punish every small error.
Arne Slot will also want to see more composure in attack. Against top teams like City, chances are few and far between, and missing them like Gakpo’s sitter can completely change the outcome.
City Ruthless, Liverpool Wasteful
At full time, the difference between the two sides was simple: City took their chances, Liverpool didn’t. Haaland, Gonzalez, and Doku made the most of their moments, while the Reds’ front line lacked the cutting edge that usually defines their play. For City, it was a statement win that keeps them firmly in the title race. For Liverpool, it was a reminder that consistency is key if they hope to keep pace at the top of the table.
Final Thoughts
The 3–0 scoreline might look harsh, but it reflected the story of the game. Liverpool weren’t completely outplayed, but City were more clinical and composed when it mattered most. As the players head off for international duty, Arne Slot will be looking for a response when they return. The fight and hunger are there, but results like this show that fine margins still define the Premier League’s biggest battles.
Liverpool’s next challenge will be to regroup, reset, and come back stronger. Because while Sunday’s defeat hurt, it also served as a reminder of the standards they need to reach if they’re to compete with the very best.
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YNWA (You’ll Never Walk Alone)!
The Liverpool FC Times Team
LiverpoolFCTimes.com