Manchester City outclass Liverpool in a comeback 4-1 win to close the gap at the top of the Premier League table
Manchester City eased to a comfortable 4-1 win at home to Liverpool in the Premier League despite missing talismanic top scorer Erling Haaland.
City who were also without another key player in Phil Foden but still recovered nicely from an early setback and coming back from behind to win 4-1.
That emphatic victory at the Etihad Stadium in the early kickoff helps Pep Guardiola's men close the gap on table-topping Arsenal to five points in pursuit of yet another Premier League title.
Manchester City 4-1 Liverpool
A balanced first half between rivals
Manchester City came into the game with confidence fueled by a six-game winning run and a superb home record against Liverpool who they have not lost a Premier League at home to this opposition since 2015.
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Liverpool looked like they were set to end that barren run at the Etihad when Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a brilliant finish.
Diogo Jota raced past the last line of defence and laid the ball off brilliantly to Salah who fired home with a first-time finish while Manchester City waited for an offside flag that never came.
City roared back 10 minutes later with a spirited and speedy response as Álvarez tapped home Jack Grealish’s low cross to level the scores after some good build-up play which involved Riyad Mahrez who also appeared to have been offside.
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The first half ended in controversy as Liverpool players protested referee Simon Hooper's decision to not show Rodri a second yellow card for a cynical foul.
Manchester City dominance in the second half
Pep Guardiola's men started the second half on the front foot and were rewarded after just one minute when Alvarez’s sweeping pass kick-started a flowing attack that culminated in a simple tap-in for Kevin De Bruyne after being picked out by Mahrez.
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The floodgates opened thereafter as İlkay Gündoğan slotted home from point-blank range after Liverpool gave Manchester City several bites of the cherry.
City piled on more misery in the 74th minute when Jack Grealish topped off a man-of-the-match display with a goal after a neat one-two with De Bruyne before calmly slotting past Alisson.
The victory is Manchester City's seventh straight across all competitions with 27 goals scored and just two conceded within that period.
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