Liverpool stretched their Premier League lead to nine points, compounding Manchester City‘s woes with a well-deserved win at Anfield on Sunday, December 1. Arne Slot’s men, still buzzing from their Champions League victory over Real Madrid, unleashed a fierce assault on City from the opening whistle. The match was characterized by Liverpool’s relentless pressing, combining Jürgen Klopp’s heavy metal football with Arne Slot’s modern touch.
Lineups
Liverpool: David Raya, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Jordan Henderson, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Luis Díaz.
Manchester City: Stefan Ortega, Kyle Walker, Rúben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Aké, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Rico Lewis, Matheus Nunes, Erling Haaland.
How the Match Unfolded
Liverpool’s dominance was evident from the very first whistle. The Reds started with an aggressive, pressing strategy, putting City under immense pressure. In the 12th minute, Mohamed Salah’s exceptional vision and a clever pass found Cody Gakpo, who calmly finished to give Liverpool the lead.
City struggled to find their rhythm, with misplaced passes from Manuel Akanji and Matheus Nunes, and errors from Kyle Walker leaving gaps in their defense. Liverpool continued to exploit these weaknesses, with Virgil van Dijk hitting the post early in the game and Stefan Ortega making several saves to keep City in the game.
Although City tried desperately to regain control, Liverpool’s attack kept them on the back foot. In the 32nd minute, Ortega fouled Luis Díaz in the box, leading to a penalty which Salah confidently converted to double Liverpool’s lead.
In the second half, Guardiola made some changes, bringing on Jeremy Doku to add more attacking power, but Liverpool remained solid defensively and continued to create chances upwards. Darwin Nunez, who came on as a substitute, played an important role in the second goal. His pressure on Ruben Dias forced a mistake, allowing Luis Díaz to break free and earn a penalty, which Salah again converted.
Post-Match Analysis
Liverpool’s performance was, as usual, impressive, with tactical execution and relentless energy. Their pressing game disrupted City’s rhythm, and their clinical finishing ensured the victory. Virgil van Dijk was imperious in defense, thwarting City’s attacks and demonstrating leadership. The midfield trio of Henderson, Szoboszlai, and Jones controlled the game, providing a solid platform for Liverpool’s forwards.
On the other hand, City appeared disjointed and lacked their usual creativity. Guardiola’s decision to field a conservative lineup without traditional wingers backfired, as City failed to exploit Liverpool’s defensive vulnerabilities. The absence of Ederson, with Stefan Ortega in goal, also added to City’s struggles.
What the Coaches Said
Pep Guardiola (Manchester City Manager): “They were unstoppable for the first 15-20 minutes. We tried to play with control, but it wasn’t easy. Liverpool deserved the first goal, but we played well in the second half without too much threat. We will try to make a reset and start from zero. I rely a lot on these players, and we’ll see what happens by the end of the season.“
Arne Slot (Liverpool Manager): “In an ideal world, we would have scored second earlier, but we put in a lot of effort and forced them into making mistakes. The crowd was fantastic today. We are a competitive team and difficult to beat. To win against City, you have to be perfect, and we came close to perfection today.“
Player of the Match
Mohamed Salah was a big part of Liverpool’s victory. He assisted on the opening goal and scored the second from the penalty spot, for which he was crowned the Player of the Match.
What Next
Liverpool will look to maintain their rhythm when they face Nottingham Forest in their next Premier League fixture. Outside the top four, Manchester City must bounce back immediately in their upcoming match if they want to be in contention for the league title.
EPL Top Six Table
Other Week 13 Results
In other EPL matches of Week 13, please take a look at the results below.
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