Match ends, Manchester City 4, Liverpool 1.
Manchester City maintained the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal by shrugging off the absence of the injured Erling Haaland to outclass Liverpool with a magnificent display at Etihad Stadium.
City's 42-goal striker was ruled out with a groin injury, but Pep Guardiola's reigning champions demonstrated their all-round strength by coming from a goal down against a Liverpool side who have made life so difficult for them in the past, to run out convincing winners.
Liverpool caught City with a counter-attack after 17 minutes to take the lead, Diogo Jota making the break before Mohamed Salah applied a thumping finish.
City responded in devastating fashion with the outstanding Jack Grealish, who made a crucial intervention on Salah when Liverpool had the chance to double their lead, crossing for Julian Alvarez to equalise after 27 minutes.
Alvarez was the creator as City went ahead 53 seconds after the break, his raking pass finding Riyad Mahrez, who crossed for Kevin de Bruyne to slide home from close range.
John Stones delivered a masterclass in an unaccustomed role which saw him advance into midfield but also drop back into defence when required, and with City in total control Ilkay Gundogan added the third after a goalmouth skirmish.
Grealish deserved a goal and it duly arrived in the 74th minute when he timed his arrival perfectly to turn in De Bruyne's cross as Liverpool ended beaten and bedraggled.
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Grealish shows his class
When Grealish was substituted to a standing ovation late on, he fully deserved the accolade after a performance of the highest class.
The 27-year-old England winger tormented Trent Alexander-Arnold, delivered an equaliser on a plate for Alvarez and then scored the fourth goal that gave the scoreline a more accurate reflection of City's supremacy over Liverpool.
Among all of his contributions, the lung-busting run to chase back and block Salah as the Egyptian raced clear with the option of setting up Jota was vital. Seconds later he was playing in Alavarez and City were level.
Grealish has grown into his role at Manchester City and clearly has the faith of his manager, who embraced him in a bear hug as he left the field.
Even stripped of Haaland, City were scintillating and gave a graphic demonstration of the gap that has opened up between them and Liverpool, who have been the only side to provide them with serious opposition in the title race in recent years.
The stylish performance of Stones, spending time breaking up attacks and spraying passes around in midfield to show what a naturally gifted footballer he is, showed that Guardiola's side have many strings to their bow and this was a huge reminder to Arsenal that they will not give up their title without a fight.
Liverpool's decline made clear
Liverpool have been the shadow on Manchester City's shoulder in the title races of recent times - now they are simply a shadow of the side that chased a historic quadruple last season.
Jurgen Klopp's team may occasionally show their former selves, like in the 7-0 demolition of Manchester United, but too often this season they have been mediocre and now they face a fight to finish in the top four.
The midfield pairing of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho look tired and vulnerable and Virgil van Dijk has lost much of his old authority at the heart of the defence.
Alexander-Arnold had another dismal 90 minutes and Andrew Robertson, his full-back partner on the other side, did not fare much better. Both were left exposed and City took full toll.
Much is made of Liverpool's pursuit of Jude Bellingham but even if they are successful against opposition from many of Europe's elite, the idea that the brilliant teenager will cure all their ills is a delusion.
Klopp looked, in turns, furious and bemused at Liverpool's rank bad defending, lack of intensity and the manner in which they were over-powered - but given their previous form this season, he should not have been that surprised.
Player of the match
GrealishJack Grealish
Manchester City
Avg
- Squad number10Player nameGrealishAverage rating
7.71
- Squad number17Player nameDe BruyneAverage rating
7.56
- Squad number19Player nameĆlvarezAverage rating
7.25
- Squad number26Player nameMahrezAverage rating
7.17
- Squad number8Player nameGĆ¼ndoganAverage rating
7.01
- Squad number5Player nameStonesAverage rating
6.98
- Squad number20Player nameBernardo SilvaAverage rating
6.96
- Squad number80Player namePalmerAverage rating
6.79
- Squad number6Player nameAkƩAverage rating
6.71
- Squad number3Player nameRĆŗben DiasAverage rating
6.62
- Squad number16Player nameRodriAverage rating
6.46
- Squad number25Player nameAkanjiAverage rating
6.43
- Squad number31Player nameEdersonAverage rating
6.34
Liverpool
Avg
- Squad number11Player nameMohamed SalahAverage rating
5.62
- Squad number1Player nameAlissonAverage rating
5.31
- Squad number18Player nameGakpoAverage rating
5.16
- Squad number20Player nameDiogo JotaAverage rating
5.09
- Squad number19Player nameElliottAverage rating
4.89
- Squad number5Player nameKonatƩAverage rating
4.79
- Squad number26Player nameRobertsonAverage rating
4.76
- Squad number14Player nameHendersonAverage rating
4.66
- Squad number4Player namevan DijkAverage rating
4.60
- Squad number3Player nameFabinhoAverage rating
4.57
- Squad number66Player nameAlexander-ArnoldAverage rating
4.06
- Squad number7Player nameMilnerAverage rating
3.61
- Squad number9Player nameRoberto FirminoAverage rating
3.34
- Squad number27Player nameNĆŗƱezAverage rating
3.25
- Squad number21Player nameTsimikasAverage rating
3.22
- Squad number15Player nameOxlade-ChamberlainAverage rating
3.05
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 3-2-4-1
- 31Ederson
- 6AkƩ
- 3RĆŗben Dias
- 25Akanji
- 16RodriBooked at 33minsSubstituted forBernardo Silvaat 83'minutes
- 8GĆ¼ndogan
- 17De Bruyne
- 5Stones
- 19Ćlvarez
- 26Mahrez
- 10GrealishSubstituted forPalmerat 89'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Walker
- 4Phillips
- 14Laporte
- 18Ortega
- 20Bernardo Silva
- 21GĆ³mez
- 32Perrone
- 80Palmer
- 82Lewis
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 5KonatƩ
- 4van Dijk
- 26RobertsonSubstituted forTsimikasat 70'minutes
- 19ElliottSubstituted forOxlade-Chamberlainat 70'minutes
- 3Fabinho
- 14Henderson
- 11SalahBooked at 19minsSubstituted forNĆŗƱezat 70'minutes
- 18GakpoSubstituted forMilnerat 82'minutes
- 20JotaSubstituted forFirminoat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Gomez
- 7Milner
- 9Firmino
- 15Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 21Tsimikas
- 27NĆŗƱez
- 29Arthur
- 32Matip
- 62Kelleher
- Referee:
- Simon Hooper
- Attendance:
- 52,877
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home68%
- Away32%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away1
- Corners
- Home7
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away12
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Manchester City 4, Liverpool 1.
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Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Virgil van Dijk.
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Foul by JuliĆ”n Ćlvarez (Manchester City).
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Konstantinos Tsimikas (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Ilkay GĆ¼ndogan (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Jordan Henderson (Liverpool).
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Cole Palmer replaces Jack Grealish.
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Foul by JuliĆ”n Ćlvarez (Manchester City).
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Ibrahima KonatƩ (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
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Attempt saved. JuliĆ”n Ćlvarez (Manchester City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne with a through ball.
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Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Konstantinos Tsimikas (Liverpool).
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Bernardo Silva replaces Rodri.
Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. James Milner replaces Cody Gakpo.
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Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
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Attempt blocked. Rodri (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez.
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Attempt saved. Jack Grealish (Manchester City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
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Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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