Liverpool tightened their vice-like grip on this season's Premier League title as they extended their lead to 11 points with a comfortable victory at Manchester City. The leaders had already seen their position strengthened when Arsenal lost at home to West Ham on Saturday, before moving decisively against the fallen reigning champions.
City opened brightly but were caught cold by a clever Liverpool corner routine after 14 minutes, with Mohamed Salah scoring his 30th goal of the season after Dominik Szoboszlai played Alex Mac Allister's delivery perfectly to him. Just before the break, Salah repaid the favor, setting up Szoboszlai, who calmly finished low past City keeper Ederson.
Liverpool managed to protect their hard-earned lead without any alarms during the second half, showcasing their efficiency and control. Under manager Arne Slot, they displayed how well they have flourished this season, fully preparing to wrap up their 20th English title—a monumental achievement.
City, meanwhile, finds itself grappling with an ageing squad, hampered by injuries to key players such as Rodri, John Stones, and Erling Haaland. The defeat against Liverpool, coupled with their prior struggles, casts doubt on where they will land at the end of the season.
Historically, the Etihad Stadium has not served Liverpool wll; they had only won once in their last 15 league games there before this match. Yet, from the moment Salah scored, the destiny of the points was never truly threatened.
Salah's scoring milestone is particularly significant—he has now scored 30 or more goals across five separate seasons for Liverpool, equaling the record held by legends Roger Hunt and Ian Rush. Szoboszlai's powerful presence added to the intensity of Liverpool's midfield play, making sure City remained on the back foot throughout.
One of the standout aspects of Liverpool's win was their clinical approach. They have become unyielding under Slot's leadership, as highlighted by the win against City, which continues to bolster their title aspirations.
On the other side, Pep Guardiola's Manchester City have plenty of re-evaluation to do. Once hailed as Premier League giants, the team's current form has fallen short of expectation, with their recent loss to Liverpool adding more weight to the need for significant rebuilding initiatives.
Though Guardiola continues to face mounting pressure, having seen his team dismissed by Real Madrid previously at the Champions League level, the situation is dire. With Liverpool holding onto their 11-point advantage, City’s focus has shifted from title contention to fighting for Champions League qualification.
The moment when James McAtee replaced Kevin De Bruyne after 67 minutes was particularly poignant, as the crowd offered respect to De Bruyne, who has long been one of City’s game-changers. Fans are now left to ponder how many more opportunities De Bruyne has left to impact at the Premier League level.
The recent scoring statistics for both teams lend more insight, with Salah having been directly involved in more Premier League goals against City than any player since Guardiola's inception as manager at City. Only Steven Gerrard has more endured the same against City historically, with Salah's impressive athleticism bolstering his legacy week by week.
It is clear now, as Liverpool leads the charge and City stumbles, football fans from all around the world must pay close attention to the ebb and flow of the 2023/2024 Premier League season.