Liverpool pulled nine points clear in the title race with an assured performance against the defending champions Manchester City, which condemned Pep Guardiola to his first seven-match winless streak in his managerial career.
The home side dominated the opening period at Anfield against a City outfit which still looked shell-shocked following their midweek capitulation against Feyenoord in the Champions League.
And Liverpool‘s superiority paid off within 12 minutes as Cody Gakpo turned home a brilliant Mohamed Salah cross to send Reds fans into ruptures.
City continue to like a shadow of their former selves, only attempting their first shot in the 39th minute, but came out for the second period a more energised side – perhaps after some half-time fireworks from Guardiola.
They still failed to register a single attempt on target, however, and when goalkeeper Stefan Ortega brought Luis Diaz down in the box, a calm penalty from Salah left the champions staring down the barrel of a fourth straight Premier League defeat and the title slipping away from them.
Mail Sport’s LEWIS STEELE was on hand to separate the stars who showed up from those who fell short on a dramatic afternoon at Anfield.
A Mohamed Salah penalty clinched all three points on a fantastic afternoon for Liverpool
City looked a shadow of their title-winning selves as they slipped 11 points off the pace
Pep Guardiola has now gone seven matches without a win for the first time in his career
LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1)
Caoimhin Kelleher – 7
Did not make a save until the 82nd minute when he denied De Bruyne to prompt ‘Ireland’s No 1’ chants from the Kop. A mere spectator otherwise.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8
Anyone doubting his importance on this team must watch this display, with several pinpoint passes from deep – one starting the move for 1-0. Was man of the match until Doku gave him a tough time defensively.
Joe Gomez – 8
Big day for Gomez on his first start of the season and he stood up to the task, not letting the challenge of Haaland faze him.
Virgil van Dijk – 9 MOTM
Van Dijk versus Haaland was billed as a key match-up but it was a mismatch, with the Liverpool captain bullying the striker. Only loses marks for not dispatching one of three headers at other end.
Andy Robertson – 7.5
Dealt with the unorthodox challenge of Lewis on his flank. Set Gakpo away with a perfect pass to nearly make it 2-0.
Anyone doubting Trent Alexander-Arnold’s importance on this team must watch this display
Virgil Van Dijk versus Erling Haaland was billed as a key match-up but it was a mismatch
Ryan Gravenberch – 7.5 (Booked)
Starting to learn the dirty side of the game, too, and made some important ‘take one for the team’ fouls.
Alexis Mac Allister – 8
Dictated the tempo from deep for Liverpool and started many attacks. Plays like a bulldog off the ball.
Mohamed Salah – 8.5
A beautiful assist for Gakpo’s opener and was a menace throughout. Missed a penalty against Real Madrid on Wednesday – was not going to do that again.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 8.5
Perhaps his best game in a Liverpool shirt. Caused all sorts of problems with runs through City’s lacklustre midfield. Put in a mammoth shift off the ball.
Salah created a beautiful assist for Gakpo’s opener and was a menace throughout
Cody Gakpo put in a vibrant performance after being given the nod on the left wing
Cody Gakpo – 8
A vibrant performance after being given the nod on the left wing. He was in the right place at the right time to open the scoring and then continued to cause problems.
Luis Diaz – 7.5
Never stopped running and won the penalty for 2-0. Becoming a fan favourite.
Substitutes: Darwin Nunez (for Gakpo, 73min) – 6
Jarell Quansah (for Alexander-Arnold, 73) – 6
Curtis Jones (for Salah, 84)
Harvey Elliott (for Diaz, 90+1)
Not used: Jaros, Davies, Endo, Jones, Elliott, Morton, Nyoni.
Manager
Arne Slot – 9
Copy and paste from Wednesday: was this the finest win of his career?
MANCHESTER CITY (4-4-1-1)
Stefan Ortega – 7
Would have been five or six without him in goal, though it was a cheap penalty to give away.
Kyle Walker was far from abysmal on Sunday afternoon, but this was another poor display
Someone should start an investigation into whether City got a fake Ilkay Gundogan when buying him back
Kyle Walker – 4.5
Needed a seismic improvement from recent weeks and, while he was far from abysmal, this was another poor display.
Manuel Akanji – 4.5 (Booked)
Looked nervous in possession as he was asked to step into midfield.
Ruben Dias – 5
Constantly barking instructions at his fellow defenders and added a bit of leadership.
Nathan Ake – 6.5
Got the nod at left back over out-of-form Josko Gvardiol and dealt with Salah for the majority of the match.
Rico Lewis – 6.5
Had City’s first chance of note in the game on 39 minutes when he toe-poked a shot just wide.
Rico Lewis had City’s first chance of note in the game on 39 minutes when he toe-poked a shot just wide
Frustrating afternoon for Matheus Nunes who, to his credit, has been great in recent weeks
Ilkay Gundogan – 5
Someone should start an investigation into whether City got a fake Gundogan when buying him back. Drop-off in his level has been astonishing.
Bernardo Silva – 5.5
Another who has been poor of late. Looked nervous to make the killer pass and often went backwards.
Matheus Nunes – 4 (Booked)
Frustrating afternoon for Nunes who, to his credit, has been great in recent weeks amid a team-wide slump. Poor here, though.
Phil Foden – 5 (Booked)
What is going on with Foden this season? Largely ineffective despite popping up in some nice areas.
Erling Haaland – 3
His 11 first-half touches were fewer than anyone else on the pitch and that was the story of his afternoon. Ghostly.
What is going on with Phil Foden this season? Largely ineffective despite popping up in some nice areas
Erling Haaland’s 11 first-half touches were fewer than anyone else on the pitch and that was the story of his afternoon
Substitutes: Jeremy Doku (for Nunes, 57min) – 6
Savinho (for Gundogan, 57) – 6
Kevin De Bruyne (for Foden, 80)
Jack Grealish (for Lewis, 80)
Not used: Ederson, Carson, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, McAtee.
Manager
Pep Guardiola – 5
Was not as catastrophic as some City fans feared but his team did not create enough.
Referee
Chris Kavanagh – 6.5
