Liverpool 2 Man City 0: Pep Guardiola’s horror run continues as Salah and Gakpo put error-strewn side to the sword
IT was a day when the league leaders faced the champions and it ended up as men against boys.
A meeting between the two dominant English clubs of this age which turned out to be a routine cakewalk for Arne Slot’s relentless Liverpool.
As Liverpool surged nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, Pep Guardiola’s freefalling side were left in the Europa League places and in full-on meltdown after a sixth defeat in seven winless games.
Slot’s men can be declared champions-elect on the first day of Advent – having won 18 games out of 20 in all competitions under their new Dutch manager.
The Kop crowed that Guardiola would be ‘sacked in the morning’ and while that is not going to happen City’s extraordinary capitulation – which their manager has literally been beating himself up about – shows no sign of abating.
Aside from Rodri’s long-term injury absence, City’s side seemed to have aged significantly before our eyes over the past month and have been shorn of all confidence.
Guardiola responded to the gloating of Liverpool fans by counting up his Premier League titles and sticking up six fingers to his Scouse tormentors.
He would be better off picking the right team. One which includes his best player Kevin De Bruyne and an authentic winger or two.
Guardiola made a major call in dropping keeper Ederson and bringing in Stefan Ortega, but there was no De Bruyne and precious little natural width.
But the most shocking aspect of his starting line-up was that Erling Haaland was the only player included who had scored a Premier League goal this season.
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Right from the off it was true to the formbook – a team who had won their last six matches battering a side who hadn’t won any of their last six.
Under Klopp, Liverpool enjoyed a few similar whirlwind starts against City but this one felt different given City’s horrendous run of results.
Ortega was swiftly into action, making saves from Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai – included in place of Curtis Jones.
Then Virgil Van Dijk headed against the inside of the post from an Alexis Mac Allister centre.
The pressure was unbearable and in the 12th minute, the dam broke.
Salah whistled in a low centre from the right and Gakpo – included ahead of Darwin Nunez – arrived at the back stick to shin it over the line for his sixth goal in seven games, with City skipper Kyle Walker seemingly unaware of the scorer’s whereabouts.
Van Dijk headed wide from a Mac Allister corner, Gakpo scooped over, Trent Alexander-Arnold pinged one wide.
Then in the 39th minute, something unexpected happened – City joined in and had a shot on goal, Rico Lewis scuffing wide.
The champions were relieved to go in at the break only one goal down and though they started the second half in brighter fashion – even winning their first corner – there was no serious threat on the Liverpool goal.
A sweeping Andy Robertson pass picked out a galloping Gakpo but Matheus Nunes made a saving tackle, then Van Dijk headed narrowly over
And when Bernardo Silva was guilty of a poor pass, Salah nicked the ball from Manuel Akanji, surged clean through but curled over when ought to have doubled Liverpool’s lead.
Guardiola decided it was time to give his team some width, introducing Savinho and Jeremy Doku for Nunes and Ilkay Gundogan.
Liverpool were sitting back but giving up no chances.
Slot sent on Darwin Nunez who was soon instrumental in Liverpool winning their penalty, dispossessing Ruben Dias and feeding Luis Diaz, who was upended by an onrushing Ortega with Walker dawdling again.
Salah stepped up and slotted home the penalty, at which point Guardiola belatedly sent on Kevin De Bruyne.
It was the Belgian who finally forced a save from Caoimhin Kelleher after an unlikely slip from Van Dijk.
But there was no serious sign of a City comeback.
As Scousers battered his eardrums, Guardiola smirked and lifted those six fingers.
One for each defeat City have suffered in their last seven games.