Liverpool moved one step closer to clinching the Premier League title after they convincingly defeated Manchester City 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium on February 23, 2025. This victory not only solidifies Arsenal's already challenging task to catch up but also marks Liverpool’s first league win at this venue since Pep Guardiola took charge of City.
The match kicked off with high expectations, but it was Liverpool who captured the early momentum. Mohamed Salah netted the opener just 14 minutes in, converting from close-range with his league-leading 25th goal of the season following a corner. His strike took a significant deflection off City defender Nathan Ake, leaving goalkeeper Ederson with no chance.
Salah was not done there, as he played the role of creator shortly afterward, setting up Dominik Szoboszlai for Liverpool's second goal just before halftime. Szoboszlai took advantage of poor defending from City, receiving Salah's precise pass inside the box and slotting it home with ease. This 37th-minute goal left the home fans disheartened, intensifying their struggles as the driving rain fell on their dismal mood.
Under the management of Arne Slot, Liverpool showcased their tactical nous, often sitting deep and absorbing pressure before hitting City on the break. Szoboszlai encapsulated this strategy when he remarked, "We were defending 30 meters from our goal and we gave everything. It is part of the game. Sometimes you don’t have the ball and we are happy to take the three points," as reported by Sky Sports.
Although Manchester City retained more possession throughout the match, dominating 66% of ball control and attempting 16 shots compared to Liverpool's 8, the quality of Liverpool's counterattacks proved to be decisive. Alisson, Liverpool's goalkeeper, made several key saves to preserve the clean sheet, but City clearly missed their star striker Erling Haaland, who was sidelined due to injury.
Following the defeat, City now finds themselves relegated to fourth place with just 44 points, and their hopes of defending their title look increasingly grim. Guardiola's team made three changes attempting to find answers but struggled to capitalize on the chances created. The absence of Haaland has left them lacking the cutting edge needed to challenge the league leaders effectively.
Following the match, Salah spoke about the significance of this win, acknowledging the difficulty of playing at the Etihad: "It is incredible. It is very hard to come and play here. They are tough, and they have an incredible manager. I'm glad we won the game." He also emphasized the mindset needed going forward: "We try to win each game. Hopefully, we keep calm because sometimes the pressure gets to us. We need another title—it's special to help the young players, and winning the league is important for all of us."
Liverpool’s 2-0 victory marked the first time they have completed the league double over City since the 2015-16 season. Impressively, it has pushed them 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League table, with Arsenal trailing furiously behind. Arsenal, who suffered their own setback with a surprise 1-0 defeat to West Ham, now face the uphill task of catching up as they have one less game to play.
Again, the future fixtures look promising for Liverpool as they navigate through relatively easy opponents, including Newcastle United and potentially several matches against teams from the lower half of the table. Their ability to keep up with their performances will be key as they march closer to the Premier League title, which seems to be slipping out of City's grasp.
Watching the match from Egypt, there was palpable excitement surrounding their homegrown talent, Mohamed Salah, who stands out as the current Egyptian superstar. Salah has been involved directly in 41 goals through 27 matches this season, showing his importance both domestically and internationally.
Nevertheless, City’s ominous shadow remains relevant with their stature and tactical prowess, even if the current season seems to be unravelling from their perspective. The challenge lying forward will be maintaining motivation to push for Champions League qualification, as they risk missing out on European glory.
The aftermath of this significant clash at the Etihad leaves Liverpool on the cusp of wrapping up their title race, with the ominous question looming: Are we already witnessing the crowning of Liverpool as Premier League champions?