Manchester City cut Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League table to five points after coming from behind to tear apart Liverpool.
Mohamed Salah had given the Reds the lead in the 17th minute but Julian Alvarez – in place for the injured Erling Haaland – levelled the score ten minutes later before the break but second half goals from Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Jack Grealish blew the visitors away.
In truth, City were levels above the visitors throughout the match and condemned Liverpool to their third successive defeat since their memorable seven-goal victory over Manchester United – as Jurgen Klopp’s side’s hopes of a top four finish suffered a fresh blow.
City are now within five points of league leaders Arsenal having now played the same number of games, although the Gunners will have the chance to extend their advantage on Saturday when they host Leeds.
Here are the main talking points from an entertaining clash at the Etihad.
Alvarez a world class deputy
The absence of Erling Haaland for this match was understandably the main pre-match talking point, but Julian Alvarez once again demonstrated how he is a more than suitable alternative in attack.
This was just the Argentine’s seventh Premier League start of the campaign but he has bagged 13 goals in all competitions for City in his debut campaign with his movement and first-time finish to level the score showing his undoubted quality. There are no questions about his suitability in a top side’s attack.
City can click without Haaland
Pep Guardiola’s side are a different team without Haaland and due to Alvarez offering a different profile. They have less of an aerial threat and may be deprived of the world’s best penalty-box finisher, but they have no shortage of world-class attacking talent on the pitch.
Their equalising goal saw Riyad Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan, Jack Grealish and Alvarez all link-up with lightning fast one-touch attacking football, while Kevin de Bruyne can also pull the strings from midfield.
The goals kept coming after the break as City blew the opposition away. It is not that City are better or worse without the Norwegian, but they are a different beast and showed their adaptability in this clash.
Grealish status now unquestionable
Jack Grealish scored the fourth goal of the game here for City but he was instrumental throughout. His assist for Alvarez’s leveller was his eighth since the World Cup, equal in the Premier League with Bruno Fernandes.
The club’s most expensive ever signing has now established himself as an undisputable starter in Guardiola’s side and he tore apart Reds right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold here.
Salah still a difference-maker
This has been a hugely difficult season for Liverpool but Mohamed Salah’s star has still shone the brightest. His opener in this game was his 23 rd goal of the campaign, while he has a further 11 assists to his name.
His finish was precise after Diogo Jota’s initial effort was saved, timing his run into the penalty area unmarked before placing the perfect finish beyond Ederson. If the Reds are to secure a top four spot this season, he is central to their hopes.
But defensive issues dominate Liverpool
Much has been made of Liverpool’s need to revamp their midfield and this was the latest indication that the side’s defensive structure is in desperate need of renovation.
Unbelievably, this was the ninth match this season in which Jurgen Klopp’s side had conceded three or more goals! It was the second time it had happened against Man City, while also occurring twice against Brighton alongside games against Napoli, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Brentford and Wolves.
Guardiola narrows Klopp gap
Jurgen Klopp is unique in management for holding a superior head-to-head record against Pep Guardiola, but that gap has narrowed after today. In 28 meetings, Klopp has won 12 to Guardiola’s 11 – with five of the encounters ending up as draws.
There is little doubt that the Reds boss’s record against Guardiola is a sensational one, but this season his charges have been unable to keep pace with City.
Reds patchy Etihad record continues
Manchester City have never won at Anfield under Pep Guardiola and while Liverpool’s record at City is stronger, this is a fixture which massively favours the home side. Going into this match, the Reds had not won at the Etihad in five attempts.
Indeed, the last time Jurgen Klopp’s side triumphed here in the Premier League was in November 2015 – a month after the German’s appointment, and the year before Guardiola’s arrival in Manchester.
