Match ends, Liverpool 1, Manchester City 4.
LiverpoolLiverpool1Man CityManchester City4
Manchester City took a potentially decisive hold on the Premier League title race as they thrashed Liverpool at Anfield - helped by a virtuoso performance by Phil Foden and a nightmare display from the champions' goalkeeper Alisson.
City's comprehensive triumph, their first at Anfield since 2003 and manager Pep Guardiola's first away to Liverpool as a manager, was achieved in such comfort that they were able to recover from Ilkay Gundogan's first-half penalty miss.
Gundogan, who skied his spot-kick after Fabinho fouled Raheem Sterling, made amends when he put City ahead four minutes into the second period, after Alisson could only push out Foden's shot.
Mohamed Salah equalised for Liverpool from the spot just after the hour after he was hauled back by Ruben Dias - but then came the combination of Alisson's errors and Foden's genius as the hosts were run ragged.
Alisson was punished for two poor clearances as Foden set up Gundogan to put City back in front after 73 minutes, then three minutes later the Brazil keeper inexplicably sent a pass straight to Bernardo Silva, whose clever cross was headed in almost on the goalline by Sterling.
City saved the best until last when Foden, the game's outstanding performer, thundered a magnificent finish high past the beleaguered Alisson seven minutes from time.
The emphatic victory leaves City five points ahead of second-placed Manchester United, having played a game less - and 10 points ahead of Liverpool with a match in hand.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Liverpool
Starting XI
Avg
Squad number1Player nameAlissonAverage rating2.61
Squad number66Player nameAlexander-ArnoldAverage rating3.70
- Squad number3Player nameFabinhoAverage rating
3.52
Squad number14Player nameHendersonAverage rating3.94
Squad number26Player nameRobertsonAverage rating3.89
- Squad number6Player nameThiago AlcántaraAverage rating
3.38
Squad number5Player nameWijnaldumAverage rating3.76
- Squad number17Player nameJonesAverage rating
4.18
Squad number11Player nameMohamed SalahAverage rating4.45
Squad number9Player nameRoberto FirminoAverage rating3.67
Squad number10Player nameManéAverage rating3.96
Substitutes
Avg
Squad number7Player nameMilnerAverage rating3.69
- Squad number21Player nameTsimikasAverage rating
3.14
- Squad number23Player nameShaqiriAverage rating
3.27
Manchester City
Starting XI
Avg
Squad number31Player nameEdersonAverage rating6.51
- Squad number27Player nameJoão CanceloAverage rating
6.57
Squad number5Player nameStonesAverage rating6.96
- Squad number3Player nameRúben DiasAverage rating
6.38
Squad number11Player nameZinchenkoAverage rating6.48
Squad number20Player nameBernardo SilvaAverage rating6.89
- Squad number16Player nameRodriAverage rating
6.59
Squad number8Player nameGündoganAverage rating7.77
Squad number26Player nameMahrezAverage rating6.19
Squad number47Player nameFodenAverage rating8.21
Squad number7Player nameSterlingAverage rating7.29
Substitutes
Avg
Squad number9Player nameGabriel JesusAverage rating6.52
Line-ups
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 3FabinhoBooked at 70mins
- 14Henderson
- 26RobertsonSubstituted forTsimikasat 85'minutes
- 6Thiago AlcántaraBooked at 3minsSubstituted forShaqiriat 68'minutes
- 5Wijnaldum
- 17JonesSubstituted forMilnerat 68'minutes
- 11Salah
- 9Firmino
- 10Mané
Substitutes
- 7Milner
- 13Adrián
- 15Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 19Kabak
- 21Tsimikas
- 23Shaqiri
- 27Origi
- 47Phillips
- 76N Williams
Man City
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Ederson
- 27Cancelo
- 5Stones
- 3Rúben DiasBooked at 62mins
- 11Zinchenko
- 20Bernardo Silva
- 16Rodri
- 8Gündogan
- 26MahrezSubstituted forGabriel Jesusat 72'minutes
- 47Foden
- 7Sterling
Substitutes
- 9Gabriel Jesus
- 13Steffen
- 14Laporte
- 21Torres
- 22Mendy
- 25Fernandinho
- 50García
- 69Doyle
- 82Bernabé
- Referee:
- Michael Oliver
Match Stats
Home TeamLiverpoolAway TeamMan City
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away5
- Corners
- Home6
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Liverpool 1, Manchester City 4.
Post update
Foul by Konstantinos Tsimikas (Liverpool).
Post update
Phil Foden (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Xherdan Shaqiri.
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Foul by Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool).
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Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. Konstantinos Tsimikas replaces Andrew Robertson.
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Foul by Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool).
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Ederson (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Liverpool 1, Manchester City 4. Phil Foden (Manchester City) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Gabriel Jesus.
Post update
Foul by Andrew Robertson (Liverpool).
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Phil Foden (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Liverpool 1, Manchester City 3. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Bernardo Silva.
Goal!
Goal! Liverpool 1, Manchester City 2. Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) right footed shot from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Phil Foden.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Gabriel Jesus replaces Riyad Mahrez.
Post update
VAR Decision: No Goal Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City.
Post update
Offside, Manchester City. Phil Foden tries a through ball, but John Stones is caught offside.
Booking
Fabinho (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Comments
Join the conversation
Worst champions* ever.
#WorseTitleToWinInHistory
#BadTiming
#OneHitWonders
#The30YearItch
City's title.
Mo Salah such a great shame.
More like Alison’s Wendy house
Liverpool, the gift that keeps giving.
Klopp’s at the wheel.
Oh sorry Salah never dives. Only players from other clubs do it. Salah is a hero
and the scouse laughed at Utd for drawing