LIVERPOOL, England, Dec 1 (Reuters) – Liverpool delivered a resounding blow to Manchester City’s faltering campaign, securing a 2-0 victory on Sunday with goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah. The win extended Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League to nine points while condemning Pep Guardiola’s side to their seventh consecutive game without a win.
The defeat marked City’s first four-game losing streak in the Premier League since 2008 and left them in an unfamiliar fifth place, 11 points adrift of Liverpool, their fiercest rivals in recent years.
Buoyed by their midweek Champions League triumph over Real Madrid, Liverpool dominated from the outset, creating numerous chances in the first half. Virgil van Dijk came close to scoring twice with powerful headers, one of which rattled the crossbar.
The breakthrough came in the 12th minute when Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered a sublime long pass to Mohamed Salah on the right wing. Salah’s precise low cross bypassed City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, allowing Gakpo to tap in at the back post.
Salah doubled the lead in the 78th minute, calmly converting a penalty after Luis Díaz was brought down by Ortega in the box. The goal sent the Anfield crowd into rapturous celebrations.
“The fans were behind us from the first minute, and I’m glad we managed to win the game,” Salah said. Reflecting on rumors surrounding his future, he added, “It’s very special to score at Anfield and win games. I don’t take it for granted.”
The win marked manager Arne Slot’s 18th victory in 20 games, further cementing his impressive start at Liverpool. Under Slot, Liverpool have combined defensive solidity with controlled aggression, building on the high-energy attacking style of predecessor Jürgen Klopp.
Liverpool now sit atop both the Premier League and Champions League standings. In the league, they hold a daunting nine-point advantage over Arsenal and Chelsea, sitting on 34 points after 13 games.
For Guardiola, the loss was a historic low. It was the first time in his illustrious coaching career that he has suffered four consecutive league defeats. Liverpool fans gleefully mocked him with chants of, “You’re getting sacked in the morning,” which Guardiola acknowledged with good humor, holding up six fingers to signify his Premier League titles.
Despite the setback, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk urged caution about title aspirations. “It’s far too early to talk about winning the Premier League,” he said. “City is a fantastic team, and they have the quality to bounce back. Today, we defended exceptionally well and created chances. It’s been a great day, but we take it one game at a time.”
Liverpool’s dominance was evident in the stats, with 18 shots and seven on target compared to City’s eight attempts and only two on target. As Liverpool continue their remarkable form, Guardiola’s City must regroup quickly to salvage their campaign.
