Liverpool delivered a major statement against Man City, with the media saying the 2-0 victory puts the Premier League title “within reach.”
Arne Slot‘s dream start to life as the Reds’ head coach continued on Sunday, as his side comprehensively outplayed the reigning champions.
Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah got the goals for Liverpool, and had it not been for missed chances by the hosts the scoreline could have been even more convincing.
Here’s how the media reacted to the Reds’ priceless victory.
This was ruthless by Liverpool, who are now firm title favourites…
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, December 1, 2024: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring the second goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Jason Burt of the Telegraph could only laud the Reds’ brilliance:
“For 20 minutes Liverpool played good old fashioned Jürgen Klopp football as they tore into Manchester City. It was rock and roll. Heavy metal. Full throttle. And City could not cope.
“Liverpool scored once. They could have scored six times. If the game was won in that period then it was not lost – or drawn – in the next 70 minutes as they showed Arne Slot football.
“A bit more control but still plenty of threat and so they wrapped it up with 12 minutes to go.
“What a performance. What a win. What a hammering for City.”
Liverpool journalist David Lynch described the win as a “demolition job,” even if the game felt finely poised in the second half:
“Because it wasn’t wrapped up until late on, you might be fooled into thinking that was a tight game.
“But it wasn’t, it was a demolition job that confirmed Manchester City won’t be anywhere near a title race that Liverpool are now nine points clear in.”
James Pearce was similarly impressed by the nature of the Reds’ triumph:
“Such an impressive, dominant display from the Reds. More energy, more quality, more desire in all departments.”
Cody Gakpo celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture date: Sunday December 1, 2024.
Phil McNulty of BBC Sport said this was arguably Liverpool’s best outing under Slot to date:
“Liverpool’s performances have been on a rapid upward curve after a start under Arne Slot that was more solid than spectacular, but in the past week they have moved on to new, higher levels of performance.
“If the emphatic manner in which Real Madrid were dismissed at Anfield on Wednesday was the biggest statement to that point, there is a strong argument that this was their best display yet under the studious Dutchman Slot.
[…]
“The noise rolling down from the Anfield stands throughout the game, especially at the final whistle, merely adds to the feeling that this season could become something very special for Liverpool.”
This is really starting to feel like Liverpool’s title to lose now…
The *Guardian*‘s David Hytner focused on City, suggesting that Liverpool’s title hopes are now looking very strong:
“When times have been tough in the past for Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, there has always been the sense that they will pull through; it will be OK.
“Almost to the extent there has been little dramatic tension around them, only inevitability. Not now.
“The City machine looks broken, the certainties that have driven them for so long absent, the control gone.
“They got exactly what they deserved here – another defeat, a sixth in seven matches in all competitions, and it is very difficult to see them defending their Premier League title.”
Richard Jolly of the Independent was similarly dismissive of City in their current guise:
“There was a lull in the noise, a break in the Anfield atmosphere, when a defiant chant emerged from a corner near Stefan Ortega’s goal.
“‘City, City, the best team in the land’, came a chorus first aired in the years when the notion was fanciful.
“For much of the last few years, they have often been branded, sometimes by opponents, as the best team in the world.
“Now that description is outdated, inaccurate, almost mocking. Now they are behind Brighton in the table, 11 points adrift of Liverpool, their title race run weeks before Christmas.
“They have lost six of their last seven games in all competitions, not won against anyone since Erik ten Hag was still Manchester United manager.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, December 1, 2024: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring the second goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Finally, the *Mirror*‘s Nathan Ridley assessed the situation, admitting that title glory feels increasingly likely for Liverpool:
“Eleven points. That’s the kind of margin you expect to be created at the back end of the campaign, not on the first day of December.
“Although Arsenal are still in the race while Chelsea and Brighton also sit above City, it’s the difference between the four-time champions and Liverpool which is the biggest talking points in this season’s title race.
“Guardiola’s champions are known to put together winning runs and chasing down the leaders, but this season, in this form, it looks an extremely difficult task.
“For Slot, the dream start to his Anfield tenure is suddenly within reach.”