Liverpool's recent victory over Manchester City has highlighted their ambitions as they strive for the Premier League title this season. On February 23, 2025, Liverpool traveled to the Etihad Stadium and emerged victorious with a 2-0 win, marking their second win over the reigning champions this season.
Under the guidance of manager Arne Slot, Liverpool has been on a winning streak, entering the match with impressive stats of 18 wins, 7 draws, and just one loss. With City hoping to reverse their fortunes after losing out on the Champions League recently, Liverpool sensed the moment to secure their lead at the top of the Premier League.
The match started with Manchester City attempting to dominate possession early on. Their plans, unfortunately for them, unraveled just 14 minutes in when Liverpool executed a perfect corner kick strategy. Alexis Mac Allister curled the ball low to the near post, where Dominik Szoboszlai flicked it on, allowing Mohamed Salah to tap it in, making it 1-0. Salah, who has been on fire, notched his 25th goal of the league season, and this was the sixth consecutive game he found the back of the net.
Despite trailing, City didn't waver and began pressing forward, hoping to draw level. Young talents like Jeremy Doku and Omar Marmoush attempted to generate chances, but City could not break through Liverpool's defense. The closest chance came when Rico Lewis fed Phil Foden, whose flick set Marmoush up for a strong shot, only to be found just offside, negated at the half-hour mark.
Liverpool maintained their composure and doubled their advantage shortly before halftime. A long ball from Trent Alexander-Arnold found Salah, who brushed off challenges to deliver a precise assist to Szoboszlai, allowing him to finish to the bottom right corner. The half ended with Liverpool leading 2-0, putting them firmly in control.
The second half saw Manchester City ramp up their efforts to claw back, but Liverpool showcased resolute defending through their stalwart Virgil van Dijk, effectively managing any threats City posed. A potential third goal for Liverpool fell just shy when Curtis Jones' effort was ruled offside after Szoboszlai set him up beautifully just minutes after the half began.
City continued to push, desperate to score. They made substitutions, bringing on fresh legs, including Kevin De Bruyne, but still found themselves stymied by Liverpool's organized defense. Despite some promising plays, including one where Niko Gonzalez sent the ball back across the box only for Ruben Lewis to fail to get it on target, City struggled to capitalize.
With the clock running down, Liverpool fortified their defense by substituting more players, including introducing Endo Wataru, aiming to secure their commanding lead. Even after City made aggressive attempts, they couldn't penetrate Liverpool’s ensemble of defenders, who held firm through increased pressure.
After four minutes of stoppage time, the match concluded with Liverpool’s 2-0 win, reinforcing their lead at the top of the table and completing the league double over Manchester City, who could only reflect on their lack of finishing capabilities this season. This victory places Liverpool not just firmly near the upper echelon of the league but at the forefront of the title race with 64 points, establishing an 11-point gap against second-placed Arsenal.
Post-match, Salah expressed his elation, stating, “It’s unbelievable. It’s really tough playing here. They are a strong team with amazing managers. I’m really happy to get the win, especially when you are involved in the title race,” reflecting the joy and confidence emanated from Liverpool’s impressive performance.
With their momentum, Liverpool's next targets include the Champions League knockout stage against Paris Saint-Germain on March 5 and 11. The stakes remain high, as the Reds aim not only to capture the Premier League title but also to bring home the Champions League trophy once again. This latest win certainly puts them on the right track.