Liverpool beat Man City to go NINE points clear at top

Mohamed Salah scored one and created one other as Liverpool marched 11 factors away from Manchester Metropolis with a 2-0 victory over Pep Guardiola’s out-of-form aspect at Anfield.

Salah, who had beforehand squandered an ideal likelihood to double Liverpool’s lead, made positive of the factors from the penalty spot after Stefan Ortega had fouled Luis Diaz.

The Egyptian star created Liverpool’s early opener, choosing out Cody Gakpo with an outstanding low cross.

Liverpool’s dominance hardly ever seemed beneath risk as in addition they struck the woodwork twice within the first half, with Kevin De Bruyne failing to transform from Metropolis’s finest alternative because the guests misplaced a fourth straight league match.

Arne Slot’s aspect are actually 9 factors clear on the prime of the Premier League, whereas Metropolis are in fifth, with their hopes of retaining the title swiftly fading away.

How the match unfolded

Dominik Szoboszlai’s early long-range strike was pushed away by Ortega as Liverpool set the tone for an excellent show, and Metropolis’s goalkeeper – in for Ederson – then obtained a fingertip to Virgil van Dijk’s thumping header, nudging it onto a publish.

But, lower than a minute later, Gakpo discovered the breakthrough, darting to the far publish to information Salah’s sensible cross over the road.

Van Dijk headed simply large with one other free header shortly after, whereas Trent Alexander-Arnold additionally skimmed the publish with a drilled effort from the sting of the field.

Salah seemed sure to double their lead 56 minutes in, benefiting from a free Bernardo Silva cross as he surged in behind, however one-v-one towards Ortega, he lifted it over the crossbar.

But Liverpool obtained the second purpose their efficiency merited within the 78th minute. Salah slotted dwelling from the spot after Diaz was clattered into by Ortega, with the penalty confirmed following a VAR verify.

De Bruyne might need made issues attention-grabbing late on after robbing Van Dijk of possession, however Caoimhin Kelleher smothered the Belgian’s shot to cap a unbelievable day for the Reds.

Issues maintain getting higher for Slot

Though there’s nonetheless loads of the season left to play, there was a sense {that a} win for Liverpool may put the title out of Metropolis’s attain already, and the Reds definitely made an announcement, even when the four-time reigning champions can’t be discounted too quickly.

Liverpool began furiously, with Ortega pressured into some nice saves because the guests struggled to deal with the tempo.

Van Dijk might also really feel barely dissatisfied he didn’t add to Gakpo’s Twelfth-minute effort as he constantly triggered chaos from corners, however he additionally did his responsibility on the different finish as he appeared to get on the tip of each ball Metropolis put into the field. Even when the Dutchman made an error late on, his goalkeeper was there to bail him and Liverpool out.

Although he had earlier missed the prospect to place Liverpool out of sight, Salah – who didn’t convert a penalty towards Actual Madrid within the UEFA Champions League in midweek – held his nerve from the spot to place the end result to mattress.

A nine-point hole on the prime of the desk is just not fairly an unassailable lead in the beginning of December, however Liverpool have now crushed Madrid and Man Metropolis within the area of 4 days at Anfield, because the Slot revolution picks up additional momentum.

Metropolis’s stoop goes on

These are unprecedented occasions for Metropolis and Guardiola, who insisted he wanted to show himself after signing his new contract regardless of his exceptional success with the membership.

Metropolis threw away a three-goal lead towards Feyenoord in midweek they usually went into Sunday’s match as agency underdogs. In the end, they turned in a efficiency befitting of that label.

Guardiola shook issues up in an try to get a much-needed win, bringing in Ortega to exchange Ederson, whereas he additionally welcomed again Ruben Dias from damage.

Nonetheless, Metropolis struggled to match Liverpool’s early depth as their disjointed defence was uncovered they usually had been indebted to their goalkeeper, who stored them within the recreation as they failed to point out any actual risk on the different finish of the pitch.

Metropolis steadied the ship considerably within the second half with out exhibiting any actual risk to Liverpool’s steely defence, bar that late likelihood for De Bruyne, a lot to the house followers’ enjoyment.

Guardiola gave each units of supporters a reminder of Metropolis’s latest dominance, holding up six fingers to the group at full time – one for every Premier League title he has gained – however for this to be Metropolis’s season, they are going to want a minor miracle.

What the managers mentioned

Arne Slot: “If you wish to win towards Metropolis it’s a must to be excellent in each a part of the sport. Excessive press, low press, build-up. They bring about so many issues to you. We got here near perfection, we weren’t excellent however we got here near perfection. That is the one solution to beat a high quality workforce like Metropolis. I do not suppose anybody, together with me, would have predicted this [start]. I knew Jurgen [Klopp] left the workforce in an excellent place. However nonetheless, to win a lot with all of the troublesome groups now we have performed already is just not one thing you may predict in the beginning of the season. However, like I say, I noticed Arsenal yesterday and Chelsea as we speak and I noticed Metropolis, they are going to come again as a result of these groups have a lot high quality. They might go on the identical run as us. So now we have to remain sharp and targeted.”

Pep Guardiola: “The primary 15-20 minutes they had been unstoppable, they began so robust, we tried to play with a whole lot of management and passes, however it was troublesome to take it. They deserved the primary purpose, however we began the primary half so effectively and performed effectively within the second half with out an excessive amount of risk. I understand how robust Liverpool are in each packing containers. I congratulate them and we’ll reset and begin from zero and it’s troublesome to imagine it. I rely quite a bit on these gamers, I do know they’re doing on this place. We’ll see what occurs by the tip of the season.”

Membership studies

Liverpool report | Man Metropolis report

Subsequent Premier League fixtures

Key info

Liverpool are actually 9 factors clear on the prime of the Premier League; their greatest margin as leaders within the competitors because the ultimate day of the 2019/20 marketing campaign, after they gained their final title (18 factors).

Man Metropolis have misplaced 4 consecutive Premier League matches for the primary time since August 2008. In the meantime, that is the primary time in Guardiola’s managerial profession that he has misplaced 4 consecutive league matches.

Guardiola has gained simply six of his 23 matches towards Liverpool throughout all competitions (D8 L9). Of opponents he’s confronted greater than 5 occasions in his managerial profession, the Reds are the aspect he’s gained the bottom share of his video games towards (26 per cent).

Salah scored and assisted in a Premier League recreation for the thirty sixth time; the joint-most by a participant within the competitors’s historical past, equalling Wayne Rooney’s document as we speak (36).