Man City Woes Continue as Liverpool Move Nine Points Clear
Premier League

Man City Woes Continue as Liverpool Move Nine Points Clear

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Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to nine points with a commanding 2-0 victory over Manchester City at Anfield. The result not only showcased Liverpool’s title credentials but also highlighted Manchester City’s ongoing struggles under Pep Guardiola, who is enduring the longest winless streak of his managerial career.

Liverpool Dominate as Man City Woes Continue

From the first whistle, Liverpool set the tone with relentless pressure and incisive attacking play. Cody Gakpo opened the scoring in the 12th minute, capitalizing on a brilliant assist from Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian maestro later sealed the victory with a composed penalty in the 78th minute, leaving Manchester City 11 points adrift of the league leaders.

City, who have now gone seven games without a win in all competitions, looked a shadow of their former selves. Guardiola’s decision to start Stefan Ortega in goal instead of Ederson raised eyebrows, and the German goalkeeper was kept busy throughout the match as Liverpool’s attack overwhelmed City’s defense.

Gakpo and Salah Shine for Liverpool

Cody Gakpo continued his fine form, following up his midweek goal against Real Madrid with another crucial strike. His movement and composure in front of goal were exemplary, as he latched onto Salah’s perfectly weighted cross to give Liverpool an early lead.

Mohamed Salah, who missed a penalty earlier in the week, made no mistake this time. After Luis Diaz was brought down by Ortega, Salah stepped up and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner, securing his 11th league goal of the season.

Manchester City’s Defensive Struggles

Manchester City’s defensive frailties were on full display at Anfield. The absence of Rodri in midfield left City’s backline exposed, and Liverpool took full advantage. Kyle Walker and Manuel Akanji struggled to cope with the pace and creativity of Liverpool’s attackers, while Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake were repeatedly caught out of position.

City’s inability to control the midfield allowed Liverpool to dominate possession and create numerous chances. Virgil van Dijk came close to scoring with a powerful header that hit the post, while Dominik Szoboszlai and Gakpo forced Ortega into several saves.

Guardiola Faces Tough Questions

This defeat leaves Manchester City in fifth place, 11 points behind Liverpool and four points outside the top four. For a team that has dominated English football in recent years, this slump is unprecedented. Guardiola, who has won six Premier League titles, now faces mounting pressure to turn things around.

Liverpool fans taunted the City manager with chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning,” but Guardiola responded with a defiant gesture, holding up six fingers to signify his league titles. However, with City’s title hopes fading fast, the focus may now shift to securing a top-four finish.

Liverpool in Control of the Title Race

Under new manager Arne Slot, Liverpool have been a revelation this season. The Reds have won 18 of their last 20 games in all competitions, and their nine-point lead at the top of the table puts them firmly in control of the title race.

With Arsenal in second place and Manchester City struggling, Liverpool’s path to a 20th league title looks increasingly clear. If they can maintain this level of performance, it will be hard for any team to catch them.

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