Liverpool took another step towards the Premier League title with a 2-0 win at Manchester City after talisman Mohamed Salah scored their first goal and set up Dominik Szoboszlai for the second as they went 11 points clear at the top on Sunday.
Arne Slot's side have 64 points from 27 matches ahead of second-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand. City are fourth on 44 as their early-season quest for a fifth consecutive title has unravelled into a chase for a Champions League berth.
Salah struck his league-leading 25th goal of the season in the 14th minute following a corner with a blistering shot from near the top of box that deflected off the outstretched foot of City defender Nathan Ake past goalkeeper Ederson.
Szoboszlai took advantage of City's atrocious defending to double the lead in the 37th. Salah found the unmarked Hungarian in the box for an easy pass into the net to the dismay of City fans, whose dismal mood was matched by the driving rain.
Man City vs Liverpool latest updates
- NO GOAL! Jones goal ruled out by offside
- GOAL! Szoboszlai slots home a second
- NO GOAL! Marmoush denied by offside flag
- GOAL! Salah sweeps home the opener
Liverpool, then, go 11 points clear at the top of the table, having played one game more than Arsenal.
Time to ready that victory parade, Reds.
Full-time
18:23 , Alex Young95min: Plenty of empty seats as the full-time whistle blows.
91min: Salah is replaced by Elliott and Quansah comes on for Alexander-Arnold.
90min: Four minutes added on.
83min: City make a mess of a clearance, sending the ball straight to Salah, who dashes forward and tees up Szoboszlai inside the area... who fires straight at Ederson.
79min: Now Gakpo returns from injury to replace Diaz.
78min: Two more changes for City as Kovacic and Dias replaced Nico and Ake.
77min: Marmoush is on, replaced by Gundogan.
75min: Salah shakes off Ake and Gvardiol and fires a shot low at Ederson.
He is unplayable at times.
71min: Jones and Robertson are off, Tsimikas and Endo are on.
66min: McAtee is on, replacing De Bruyne after another below-par display in a big game.
62min: McAtee is being readied.
58min: Straight up the other end, Marmoush again goes close on the angle after latching onto Doku’s pass.
Foden was screaming for it at the other end.
NO GOAL!
17:47 , Alex Young57min: Jones thinks he has added a third but Szoboszlai is offside in the build-up.
53min: Salah scampers down the right, cuts inside and goes with the outside of his boot to find a team-mate at the back post... but for once it doesn’t come off.
49min: City again with the majority of possession in these opening stages of the season half.
Second half!
17:34 , Alex Young46min: Back underway.
Does Pep change anything at the break?
Man City haven’t really been that bad on the whole. They’ve had their chances, have boasted more possession... but have no answer to Liverpool.
Can we call Liverpool the champions-elect yet?
Half-time!
17:18 , Alex Young48min: There’s the whistle.
46min: Two minutes added on.
44min: Liverpool look so comfortable. Crowding City out easily when not in possession, ghosting past them when with the ball.
40min: Who can stop this side? Certainly not Arsenal...
GOAL!
17:09 , Alex Young38min: This is so, so easy for Liverpool.
Never doubt the Reds, never doubt Salah. Scorer turns provider as Szoboszlai cooly slots home inside the area.
Champions-elect, yet?
34min: A great move from Liverpool as again Salah is left unmarked, but this time the forward sends Alexander-Arnold free down the left to win a corner.
32min: Mac Allister requires some medical attention after being fallen on by Marmoush. But he’ll be fine.
NO GOAL!
17:02 , Alex Young31min: Incredible finish from Marmoush, who holds off Mac Allister to fire inside the far post... but he’s a good two yards offside.
30min: But Foden takes and goes direct to goal, and it’s right down Ederson’s throat.
A waste.
29min: So many needless fouls from Liverpool. Another gives City a chance to hang in a cross from deep. Marmoush fancies it...
25min: Robertson should be walking a tightrope. He goes in late, and from behind, on Savinho but again no yellow card.
23min: City win a corner after good work by Ake. Foden takes but doesn’t clear the first man.
20min: Liverpool enjoying more of the possession since going behind.
17min: What do City have in response? City fans back in full voice after a few minutes.
GOAL!
16:46 , Alex Young14min: He only needs two chances!
Salah sweeps home a well-worked corner routine to break the deadlock!
Benefited from a deflection, but that was straight off the training ground.
13min: Salah’s first chance to get on the ball and he scampers down the left and into the area, but is quickly crowded out.
11min: Slot is telling Van Dijk to get closer to Foden.
9min: Robertson palms Lewis away in the face, no booking. Guardiola motions an elbow, but that wasn’t the case.
7min: It’s all City at the moment.
Liverpool have barely got out of their half, and when they did it led to Diaz slipping on the ball on the edge of the area.
5min: Doku spins away from Konate, releases Marmoush into the area who darts to the byline and tries to cut back a cross but Liverpool clear.
4min: This one comes to nothing.
3min: Foden’s corner is punched away by Alisson, it’s sent back in and Van Dijk concedes another corner.
2min: De Bruyne looks up and tries to find Marmoush for the first time, drilling a low cross into the area and forces a corner.
Kick-off!
16:30 , Alex Young1min: Here we go!
Salah is just sat on the stairs. Calm and focused.
Players are starting to occupy the tunnel. Not long now.
Pep Guardiola on Haaland injury
16:17 , Alex Young[Decision made] yesterday, after training. He has improved that he didn't feel good.
“[Fit to face Tottenham in Wednesday?] “I hope so. That will see. Hopefully, he comes back when he feels good.
“Obviously, we miss it. But during these nine years, we played many seasons without really, really important players, and we survived.
“And this season, we had a lot a lot a lot of injuries that we could not survive. And but in specific games we’ve had to do it.”
The teams are going through their final preparations.
Slot taking no notice of Arsenal
15:59 , Alex YoungArne Slot says Liverpool cannot get wrapped up in what title rivals Arsenal are doing.
"I think the biggest question to be asked is from Man City because we face a strong team again, like we faced at Villa," the Liverpool boss said.
"Yeah, Arsenal plays before us but we know that doesn't make the game easier or more difficult than we have against City. We know we have 12 games to play and Arsenal has 13 games to play.
"If we constantly look at Arsenal or what other teams are doing, that would not help us.
"We already know how difficult it is to go to the Etihad, so we don't need Arsenal to get involved in that even more."
It’s a windy day in Manchester.
Arsenal’s latest title race slip-up is surely the biggest. Not only are they chasing in points, they are now always playing a game behind Liverpool.
Any dropped points just relaxes the pressure on Liverpool, and an entirely predictable home loss to West Ham has done exactly that. The Reds can move 11 points clear today, albeit having played a game more.
If you’re wondering, my score prediction remains the same... but I’m not too confident about it!
Advantage, Liverpool.
Stating the obvious, but that’s such a big miss for City.
However, De Bruyne and Marmoush starting together for the first time is very intriguing.
So, that's two changes for Man City as Haaland misses out entirely due to injury. In his place, De Bruyne and Doku come in.
It's one change for Liverpool as Diaz replaces Jota. Gakpo is fit enough for the bench.
Confirmed team news in full
15:22 , Alex YoungLiverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Diaz, Jones
Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Nunez, Chiesa, Gakpo, Elliott, Jota, Tsimikas, Quansah.
Man City XI: Ederson, Lewis, Khusanov, Ake, Gvardiol, Nico, De Bruyne, Savinho, Foden, Doku, Marmoush
Subs: Ortega Moreno, Dias, Kovacic, Grealish, Gundogan, Bernardo, Reis, Nunes, McAtee
Liverpool XI
15:17 , Alex Young...and the visitors!
Team news is IN 👊🔴 #MCILIV
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 23, 2025
Man City XI
15:15 , Alex YoungHere’s how the hosts look!
Today’s team to face Liverpool! 🩵
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 23, 2025
XI | Ederson, Lewis, Khusanov, Ake, Gvardiol, Nico, De Bruyne (C), Savinho, Foden, Doku, Marmoush
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Dias, Kovacic, Grealish, Gundogan, Bernardo, Reis, Nunes, McAtee#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/yLDMaa20ed
And Haaland is not in the Man City squad!
Sounds like Gakpo is in the Liverpool squad.
Confirmed team news in just over 10 minutes. Will Haaland be fit to start?
Score prediction
14:53 , Alex YoungLiverpool to appear to have lost some of their edge in recent weeks and that will present opportunties for Manchester City.
Haaland's involvement will play a huge part in this prediction, but on the basis that he is fit to start then I struggle to see Liverpool winning today.
City are starting to look more comfortable at home again so should get on the scoresheet, and Liverpool are always good for a goal with Salah.
That could be that, though.
Man City 1-1 Liverpool
Guardiola lost for words over Carragher's Haaland remark
14:41 , Alex YoungPep Guardiola was lost for words when told of Jamie Carragher's thoughts on Erling Haaland's absence against Real Madrid in midweek.
Former Liverpool defender Carragher suggested the Norway international had not wanted to come up against Real centre-back Antonio Rudiger, saying he could have "Rudiger-itis".
City manager Guardiola had not been aware of Carragher's comments until they were raised towards the end of his press conference to preview Sunday's Premier League game against Liverpool. The Spaniard reacted with surprise and disbelief.
"Oh God, did Jamie Carragher say that? Oh God," Guardiola said before turning away and pausing for a few moments.
"I don't laugh. I don't know why it'd be that suspicious. Do you think Erling Haaland didn't want to play that game?"
There was then another long pause as Guardiola looked down at his desk and shook his head.
When prompted for a further comment, he said: "It's not true. It was crazy to play the game. He had a problem in his knee and he could not play."
Guardiola shook his head again before ending the press conference.
Liverpool team news
14:36 , Alex YoungConor Bradley limped off late on with a hamstring injury against Aston Villa and is expected to miss the next two games at least as he undergoes further assessment.
The defender joins Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton in the Anfield treatment room as Slot manages the minutes of Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
With no available alternative without Bradley and Gomez, Alexander-Arnold is likely to keep his place in the Liverpool XI and it will be an interesting battle down his side, especially if Josko Gvardiol and Jeremy Doku both start for City.
On the opposite flank, Slot could be tempted to bring in Kostas Tsimikas for Andy Robertson to deal with Savinho as the Brazilian has been a bright spark of late and the experienced left-back has struggled against pacy and direct wingers this season.
The dilemma in attack centres around Gakpo’s fitness. Should he start then it’s a question over who leads the line. Darwin Nunez will have a point to prove after his glaring miss against Villa, but Diaz may get the nod over both the Uruguayan and Jota.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Diaz
Man City team news
14:29 , Alex YoungIf Erling Haaland is not passed fit to face Liverpool then January signing Omar Marmoush - fresh off scoring a hat-trick against Newcastle - is the most likely option to lead the City attack and Kevin De Bruyne could be recalled after being rested for the last two games.
John Stones was forced off early against Real Madrid and is now facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines, with the Englishman potentially requiring surgery on his thigh. His place in defence alongside Ruben Dias is likely to go to Nathan Ake.
There is a decision for Guardiola to make at right-back as Matheus Nunes and Rico Lewis are pushing to replace January signing Abdukodir Khusanov, who endured a difficult night against Vinicius Jr in Madrid.
Manuel Akanji, Rodri and Oscar Bobb are all still out but Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku and Mateo Kovacic are in contention to start.
Predicted Man City XI: Ederson; Nunes, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Gonzalez, Kovacic; Savinho, De Bruyne, Foden; Marmoush
Cody Gakpo in line to return
14:22 , Alex YoungLiverpool are hoping to see Cody Gakpo return from injury today.
The Dutch forward has missed the last two games against Wolves and Aston Villa as the result of a heavy knock that forced him off in the latter stages of the chaotic Merseyside derby draw at Everton last week.
Luis Diaz filled in on the left wing against Wolves and scored the opening goal as Diogo Jota made his first league start since October through the middle, but returning midfielder Curtis Jones then surprisingly got the nod out wide in the 2-2 draw with Villa on Wednesday night.
As the Reds now look to potentially pull 11 points clear in the title race with just 11 games to go after closest rivals Arsenal’s crucial home defeat by West Ham on Saturday, Gakpo’s fitness could be important.
Speaking ahead of the trip to the Etihad Stadium, Liverpool boss Arne Slot said of his Dutch compatriot on Thursday: “Let’s see, let’s see. I hope. I am not 100 per cent sure.
“He hasn’t trained with the team yet, maybe he does a bit today, I don’t know exactly. It will be a close call.”
Erling Haaland a doubt
14:15 , Alex YoungManchester City are sweating on the fitness of Erling Haaland.
The Norway international sparked concern when holding his knee after landing awkwardly during the 4-0 win over Newcastle last weekend before coming off with a few minutes to go.
All appeared to be well with the striker when he was subsequently pictured appearing to take some part in training and named in the travelling squad for the Champions League knockout phase play-off second-leg tie at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night.
Eyebrows were then raised when Haaland was named on the bench in Madrid and did not come on despite City’s deficit, with Guardiola revealing afterwards that his star striker said he wasn't ready to be involved.
In an update following the 3-1 loss on the night, the Man City boss didn't sound too confident of having Haaland back for the visit of the Premier League leaders.
“Erling, yesterday [Monday], tried to train after the action against Newcastle in the last minutes,” Guardiola said.
“Probably, with the images (scans) we have done, it’s fine but he has discomfort walking, for example with stairs, and we spoke yesterday and this morning and he said he’s not ready, he doesn’t feel good.”
Asked on Friday if Haaland will be fit to face Liverpool, the City boss said: “I don't know yet. Tomorrow [Saturday] we will know.”
How to watch Man City vs Liverpool
14:06 , Alex YoungTV channel: The game will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR. Coverage starts at 4pm GMT ahead of a 4.30pm kick-off time.
Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch on a live stream via the Sky Go app.
Welcome
13:59 , Alex YoungGood afternoon and welcome to the Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Premier League clash between Manchester City and Liverpool at the Etihad.
The Reds have dropped points in their last two away games and, despite City’s struggles this season, know a trip to face the reigning champions is always a tough test.
They will have been hugely relieved to see Arsenal lose at home to West Ham yesterday, so must take advantage with at least a point today.
Kick-off is at 4.30pm. Stick with us.
