MAN CITY have closed the gap on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League with a 4-1 win over Liverpool.
Mohamed Salah put the Reds ahead with a brilliant finish, but Julian Alvarez has now equalised with a tap-in from Jack Grealish’s cross.
And straight after the break, De Bruyne made it 2-1, tapping in from Riyad Mahrez’s cross, before Ilkay Gundogan made it 3-1.
Jack Grealish then made it four as he placed home after De Bruyne’s pass.
- Kick-off time: 12:30pm BST
- Live stream: BT Sport website or app
- TV channel: BT Sport 1
- Man City XI: Ederson, Stones, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Rodrigo, Gundogan (C), De Bruyne, Mahrez, Grealish, Alvarez
- Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Elliott, Jota, Salah, Gakpo
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That’s all from the Etihad!
It’s been the match that seals Premier League titles in the past, but this contest between Manchester City and Liverpool may be the one that finally sparks the champions into chasing Arsenal down at the top of the table.
Without Erling Haaland, City were brilliant throughout, and thoroughly deserving of their 4-1 victory – despite the shock of Mo Salah’s early opener.
For Liverpool, however, questions will continue to be asked until a summer rebuild takes place.
So, with the gap narrowed to five points, it’s over to Arsenal – literally.
Here’s the live blog of the Gunners’ home game with Leeds, in which they have just gone 1-0 up through a Gabriel Jesus penalty.
Thanks for joining us here, and goodbye.
Extra! Read all about it!
Before we bow out of the blog, let’s recap on this afternoon’s action with Neil Custis’ match report of Manchester City’s 4-1 thumping over Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.
This was magnificent Manchester City at their very best. Be warned Arsenal, they will not go away.If the Gunners want their Premier League trophy they might just have to break into the Etihad to get it. Pep Guardiola’s men know how to win titles, know how to stay the course, know how to chase down an opponent.
Neil Custis
Klopp dismisses Rodri red claims
Jurgen Klopp refused to be drawn in detail as to whether Simon Hooper’s decision not to show Rodri a second yellow card in the first half was a factor in the eventual result.
The Manchester City midfielder had been booked two minutes earlier when he bundled over Cody Gakpo from behind, prompting furious protests from Liverpool players.
Could he have got a second yellow? Probably. I’m not sure we would have won against 10 men today, to be honest
Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool let the lead slip
It all looked so good for Liverpool when Mo Salah fired them in front on 17 minutes.
But an hour and a half later, and Jurgen Klopp’s players were trudging off the field after a comprehensive defeat.
It is the the first time that the Reds have lost a Premier League match in which they opened the scoring since February 2021 when they were beaten 3-1 by Leicester.
Since then, the Reds had gone unbeaten in 44 such matches, winning 39 and drawing five.
They had won the last 22 in a row after scoring first.
Guard of honour! Pep hails heroes
Manchester City Pep Guardiola didn’t want to focus on individuals in his post-match interview, instead suggesting that today’s win was one of the most impressive during his tenure at the Etihad Stadium.
From minute one to minute 90, it was the perfect performance. We played really, really good in all departments. One of the best performances in my seven years.
Pep Guardiola
The Greal deal! Jack steals show
Despite admitting that he spent the morning being sick in the bathroom, Jack Grealish turned in his best performance in a Manchester City shirt.
The former Villa star was a menace throughout, toying with the likes Trent Alexander-Arnold and Fabinho from the off.
The City wide man scored one, set up another, and even executed a brilliant goal-saving block in the first half to keep the score at one-each.
- 1 goal
- 1 assist
- 73 touches
- 2/2 dribbles completed
- 6 duels won
- 4 fouls won
- 3 shots
- 3 shots on target
- 1 chance created
One hundred home comforts for Pep
This afternoon’s 4-1 thrashing of Liverpool was Manchester City’s 100th Premier League home win under Pep Guardiola.
The Spanish mastermind brought up a century of home wins in just 128 matches, making him the fastest manager to do in the Premier League era.
Guardiola’s milestone breaks the previous record of Arsene Wenger, who brought up 100 Premier League home wins in 139 games.
Match stats from the Etihad
Manchester City have won four Premier League games in a row for the first time this season – and few will have been as comprehensive as this.
Full time – Man City 4-1 Liverpool
Simon Hooper calls time on a superb second half performance from Manchester City.
Following a fiercely contested first period, it took just 50 seconds for Kevin De Bruyne to force the hosts in front following the break – and from that point, they never looked back.
Further goals from Ilkay Gundogan and the excellent Jack Grealish blew Liverpool away, for whom it never got better than Mo Salah’s opener.
With the win, City close the gap at the top of the table to five points.
Over to you, Arsenal.
Man City 4-1 Liverpool
90. Three minutes of stoppage time are signalled by the fourth official.
They’re going to be a painful 180 seconds for the remaining Liverpool fans.
Man City 4-1 Liverpool – Man City substitution
88. Jack Grealish’s best performance in a Manchester City shirt has come to an end.
The England international comes off to a standing ovation, and earns an embrace from his manager as he’s replaced by young Cole Palmer.
Man City 4-1 Liverpool
86. Grealish is loving life out on the Etihad pitch.
Another thrilling run, another cheeky back-heel, and it almost sets up a chance for Gundogan to head in number five.
Man City 4-1 Liverpool – Man City substitution
84. Rodri is off – although Liverpool fans will feel he’s leaving the pitch 50 minutes later than he should have done.
On his place comes Bernardo Silva, who wasn’t deemed fit enough to play more than a cameo by Pep Guardiola.
Man City 4-1 Liverpool – Liverpool substitution
82. Liverpool’s final change sees James Milner on for his 609th Premier League appearance.
Not that he’s given a warm welcome from the City fans, who boo a player that they used to cheer when he wore blue.
Cody Gakpo takes a breather for the final eight minutes.
Man City 4-1 Liverpool
80. It’s not unusual for City to blow away an opponent at the Etihad, but there’s been such a gulf in class between these two sides in recent seasons.
It’s proper men against boys stuff out there at the moment.
Man City 4-1 Liverpool
78. “This could get ugly for Liverpool,” ponders concerned commentator Darren Fletcher.
It certainly seems to be a question of how many City want.
Man City 4-1 Liverpool
76. The City fans are, unsurprisingly, in full voice now, enjoying every moment.
The Liverpool fans, meanwhile, are making for the exits in their droves.
Man City 4-1 Liverpool
74. Jack Grealish has his goal, sliding in number four!
It’s another lovely move, but one that owes as much to Liverpool’s lack of desire as it does to City’s excellence.
It’s Grealish that starts the attack, collecting Rodri’s pass on the left and dinking a pass down the line for Kevin De Bruyne.
At that point, Trent Alexander-Arnold decides to give up on tracking back, allowing Grealish to continue his run unchallenged and convert De Bruyne’s reverse pass.
Four goals for City, and soon to be a fourth straight win.
A deserved goal!
Man City 3-1 Liverpool
72. Grealish sets off again from the left, cutting inside and teasing the Liverpool defence.
Just as another right-footed curler looks likely, the City man pauses an opts for a simple lay-off to De Bruyne.
Man City 3-1 Liverpool – Liverpool quadruple substitution
70. Here we go!
On are sent Kostas Tsimikas, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Roberto Firmino and Darwin Nunez.
Off go Andy Robertson, Harvey Elliott, Diogo Jota and – most surprisingly – Mo Salah.
Perhaps a sign that Jurgen Klopp is consolidating rather than chasing unlikely points.
Man City 3-1 Liverpool
68. “Liverpool need help here,” suggests co-commentator Lucy Ward.
It looks like they’re going to get it with the arrival of four substitutes.
Man City 3-1 Liverpool
67. Cool, calm and collected, City’s players are in complete control – literally.
After a ridiculously long passing sequence, Mahrez wins his side a corner when his cross is booted behind by Van Dijk.
Man City 3-1 Liverpool
65. The Liverpool boss has seen enough, and is preparing a mass of changes.
Can the newcomers spark the visitors back into this contest?
Man City 3-1 Liverpool
63. In his technical area, Jurgen Klopp is wearing the same forlorn look that he has had for much of the season.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
