MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 LIVERPOOL: Pep Guardiola marked his 1000th game as a manager in style as the former Premier League champions comprehensively beat the reigning kingpins
Jeremy Doku celebrates after scoring against Liverpool
Jeremy Doku tormented Liverpool as Manchester City beat the champions 3-0
View 5 Images
A bedazzling display from Jeremy Doku inspired Manchester City to a seismic 3-0 win over Liverpool, who were outclassed by their title rivals at The Etihad on Sunday afternoon.
City were presented with a golden opportunity to break the deadlock inside the first quarter of an hour when Giorgi Mamardashvili's knee sent Doku sprawling in the penalty area. But the Georgia goalkeeper redeemed himself in style by thwarting Erling Haaland from 12 yards by springing to his left-hand side.
Unfortunately for Liverpool and their deputy keeper, normal service would soon resume for Haaland, who headed home his 99th Premier League goal just 15 minutes later.
Not long after VAR intervened to deny Virgil van Dijk an equaliser after he powered a header beyond Gianluigi Donnarumma from a corner, a deflected strike from Nico Gonzalez strengthened City's grip on the game.
Doku was Liverpool's tormentor-in-chief and he produced the game's best moment, curling a world class strike beyond Mamardashvili just past the hour to kill Liverpool off to cap a fine afternoon for City. Here are Mirror Football's talking points from the big game...
1) Dancing Doku dazzles
On a field littered with elite attacking talent, it was Doku who stood head and shoulders above all others on Sunday afternoon.
Often fabulous one moment and then frustrating the next, this was surely Doku's finest hour in a Manchester City shirt, punctuated with a stunning third goal to kill off any hope of a Liverpool resurrection.
Doku's dribbling ability is second to none (he completed SEVEN here if you're counting) and he left the game Conor Bradley dizzy at times; there were moments where he was genuinely unplayable. His end product may be inconsistent at times, but the game - and Manchester City - would be far poorer without him.
2) Hit and miss Haaland
Erling Haaland takes a penalty against Liverpool
Erling Haaland missed a penalty before scoring City's first goal
View 5 Images
He is human, then. Or maybe not. Barely 15 minutes after City's imperious goalscoring juggernaut malfunctioned from the penalty spot, he was celebrating his 99th Premier League goal.
Unlike most of the 98 that preceded this goal, City's No 9 knew little about it: the ball ricocheted off Ibrahima Konate before bouncing onto the side of Haaland's face and looping into the far corner of Maradashvili's goal. That's right, City's headline act is capable of scoring goals without even meaning to.
Pep Guardiola said earlier this season that Haaland was better than ever, which is quite the claim to make considering the manner in whcih he's blitzed Premier League records left, right and centre on these shores. He now boasts 14 Premier League goals in 11 games, which is, remarkably, three short of the 17 he had at this point on his debut season. But make no mistake, this version of Haaland feels more dangerous than any other.
3) Liverpool fail to fire
Liverpool were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City
Liverpool were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City
View 5 Images
Victory over Real Madrid may have cooled talk of a crisis, but the reigning Premier League champions were all at sea here. They wilted under the lights of the Etihad in difficult conditions and were fortunate to only be two goals down at the break.
Arne Slot's team looked leggy and it never felt like there was any way back for them when Gonzalez's strike hit the net in first half stoppage time, even if they did improve slightly after the break.
File this one under another afternoon to forget for the champions; on this evidence, it will be City, rather than Liverpool, contesting for the Premier League crown with Arsenal.
4) Pep celebrates milestone in style
Pep Guardiola celebrates during a Manchester City game
Pep Guardiola celebrated his 1000th game as a manager with a big win
View 5 Images
Manchester City's kingpin could hardly have wished for a better way to mark his 1000th game as a manager as he watched his side rip one of their main title rivals apart.
For years, City have been all-conquering in the Premier League and last year's implosion will have stung Guardiola. But they played like champions here and have form for hunting down Arsenal in the championship rounds.
This will have been sweet for Guardiola. Now to follow it up with another title.
5) Reds record ends
Mohamed Salah looks on during a Liverpool game
Mohamed Salah and Liverpool failed to fire against Manchester City
View 5 Images
Liverpool had scored in 44 consecutive Premier League games before failing to fire against Manchester City.
Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike started the game in attack but none were able to breach City's defence as the Reds slumped to another chastening loss. Much has been made of Liverpool's issues in defence but they lacked a cutting edge here too.
Join our new WhatsApp communityand receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read ourPrivacy Notice.
Content Image
Content Image