Man City 4 Liverpool 1: Champions come from behind to thrash Reds with stunning second half and keep pressure on Arsenal
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.
The Gunners could not have a worse sight in their rearview mirror as they try to break a 19-year drought.
This was embarrassing for Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp who had to endure chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” as his side slumped to a third successive defeat.
He had asked his team to “show up and really go for it”.
They didn’t. They won’t make the top four.
They had taken the lead through Mohammed Salah in the 17th minute.
But City came roaring back.
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They were level through Julian Alvarez in the 27th minute then turned on the style after the break with goals from Kevin De Bruyne in the 46th, Ilkay Gundogan in the 53rd and Jack Grealish after 74.
Grealish was excellent all afternoon while De Bruyne is answering the call from his boss to find his very best form again.
To think this was achieved without their top scorer Erling Haaland who is injured.
It was all a bit fiery at the start.
Tackles flew in with Grealish constantly being grounded with Fabinho on his toes.
Referee Simon Hooper was implored by a crowd of Liverpool players to send off Rodri with the scores level after he twice hauled back an opponent but the first booking was not added to.
Liverpool had looked happy to concede possession and then hit their opponents on the break, which they did to good effect to take the lead through Salah.
It is the fourth time he has faced City this season including the Community Shield and EFL Cup and he has now scored every time.
The last Liverpool player to score against the same opponent in four games in one season was Ian Rush against Everton in 1985-86.
The build-up to the goal started with a long ball from Trent Alexander Arnold to Diogo Jota who burst clear from just inside the City half.
It looked tight, but he was onside.
Manuel Akanji did well to sprint back and hold him up in the box but when the ball ran loose Salah charged on to it and curled a shot into the far top corner.
City responded and fashioned a chance for Ilkay Gundogan which he miskicked.
When Mahrez had a free shot which he sent over as manager Pep Guardiola held his head in his hands.
They were almost made to pay when Liverpool broke again this time with Salah running free but Grealish did superbly to sprint across the pitch and block his intended square ball to the unmarked Jota.
City’s equaliser would come from the boot of the man promoted into the first team on the back of Haaland’s injury.
De Bruyne spread the ball out wide to Gundogan who charged inside and passed to the opposite flank where Grealish was lurking.
His low cross was perfect for Alvarez to turn in.
Guardiola celebrated wildly.
He even got right in the face of Liverpool subs Arthur Melo and Kostas Tsimikas who were walking back towards their bench after warming up.
Tsimikas did well to keep his cool and ignore him.
The City boss would be leaping about and punching the air again as people were still taking their seats after the break.
Alvarez found Mahrez and his slide rule square ball evaded the outstretched arm of Alisson allowing De Bruyne to side-foot home.
Just seven minutes later it was three.
Alvarez was involved again as his shot was blocked by Trent Alexander-Arnold in front of his goalkeeper.
The ball rebounded to Gundogan who scooped it into the back of the net.
At that moment the fight went out of this Liverpool side.
Klopp made a quadruple substitution with just over 20 minutes left, with even Salah brought off, as he tried to turn the tide.
But his team were sunk.
More waves of City attacks would come crashing in and another goal this time from the boot of Grealish in the 74th minute.
A fine way to celebrate his new £10million-a-season boot deal with Puma who will have delighted with his man-of-the-match display.
The record buy would roll the ball down the flank for De Bruyne then trot into the box to take the return and steer a shot past Alisson.
Done and dusted.