Player Ratings: Salah and Szoboszlai Shine as Liverpool Dominate at the Etihad | OneFootball

Liverpool Punish Manchester City to Extend Premier League Lead

Clinical Liverpool Triumph at the Etihad

Liverpool took another significant step towards reclaiming the Premier League title with a well-executed 2-0 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad. This result not only secured a crucial three points but also underlined the growing chasm between these two sides this season.

With Arsenal faltering in recent weeks, this was a chance for Liverpool to assert their dominance—and they did so with precision. Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai struck in the first half, ensuring that Arne Slot’s side completed a league double over City.

Pep Guardiola’s team, once the standard-bearers of English football, now find themselves 20 points off the pace. The focus has shifted from defending their title to simply securing a Champions League place, an astonishing decline for a side that has defined the modern era of the competition.

Photo: IMAGO

Salah and Szoboszlai Deliver Again

Liverpool wasted no time in unsettling their hosts. Salah’s movement in the box caused problems early on, and his 30th goal of the season arrived in the 14th minute, the Egyptian latching onto a well-worked move to finish past Ederson.

Szoboszlai doubled the lead before the break, his composure in front of goal reflective of a Liverpool side that now exudes control and confidence. The Hungarian playmaker calmly slotted past Ederson after an incisive pass from Salah, putting the game beyond City before half-time.

Guardiola’s Side Struggles to Respond

Manchester City, once famed for their ability to respond in adversity, looked devoid of ideas. With Kevin De Bruyne unable to dictate the tempo and Phil Foden isolated up front, Liverpool’s defence held firm.

Jeremy Doku provided flashes of inspiration down the left, his direct running unsettling Trent Alexander-Arnold. However, there was no cutting edge, no decisive final ball, and most concerning for Guardiola, no sense of urgency.

Liverpool’s game management was exemplary. The second half saw them control possession, limit City’s opportunities, and see out the contest with minimal fuss. The likes of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson marshalled the defence superbly, ensuring there was never a route back into the game for City.

Photo: IMAGO

Liverpool Take a Stranglehold on the Title Race

This win not only extends Liverpool’s lead at the top to 11 points but also reinforces their credentials as the team to beat. Slot’s men are playing with the assurance of champions, blending defensive solidity with attacking ruthlessness.

For City, the outlook is bleak. The reigning champions are now in a fight to even finish in the top four—a reality few would have predicted at the start of the campaign.

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