Overview
- Manchester City beat Liverpool 3-0 at the Etihad through goals from Erling Haaland, Nico Gonzalez and Jeremy Doku, leaving the champions eighth after 11 games.
- The defeat was Liverpool’s fifth in the league this season, putting them eight points behind leaders Arsenal and four back from City.
- Arne Slot acknowledged City’s superiority, said his game plan failed, and stressed that Liverpool must focus on results rather than a title race.
- Virgil van Dijk’s first-half header was ruled out for offside due to Andy Robertson’s position, a decision Liverpool questioned but did not use as an excuse for the loss.
- Analysts highlighted recurring issues down Liverpool’s flanks and City’s targeted plan to crowd Mohamed Salah, with pundits warning that consistency must improve after brief highs against Aston Villa and Real Madrid.