Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)placeholder image
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Liverpool suffered a 3-0 loss against Man City which has left their hopes of defending the Premier League title are virtually over.
Any supporter wanting to get a glimpse of the Premier League trophy has little more than six months to do so. Get your tickets for an Anfield tour booked. Because come May, the real version will be replaced by a replica.
November’s international break is only just upon us. Yet Liverpool’s aspirations of defending the English championship are over. The gap of eight points to Arsenal is a chasm. And judging by recent form, it is only going to get larger.
Even the most optimistic Reds fans will struggle to muster a convincing argument that there is a chance of claiming the title. Liverpool have to chase an Arsenal team that barely concede a goal. Slot’s side, meanwhile, have shipped 17 in 11 matches after a 3-0 loss to Manchester City.
There is no shame in losing at the Etihad Stadium. But Liverpool were simply outfought and outclassed in all departments. And on a day when their attacking players struggled, they could not be bailed out by a resolute defensive performance that is the hallmark of every team worthy of winning the Premier League.
Yet again, the Reds were porous in the rearguard. City’s opening goal summed up their woes. Virgil van Dijk was dragged out to a position that he did not want to be in. The nature of Manchester City’s attack meant that the Liverpool captain was forced to temporarily operate as a left-back rather, with Andy Robertson tucking in centrally.
This was the procedure expected. Two experienced players recognised the need to cover for one another. You could see Van Dijk talking to Robertson to stay operating as a centre-back several times. Yet, the timing of the decision when they finally opted to revert to the status quo was ludicrous. You could tell Robertson was not entirely comfortable. But he should have been more authoritative and disobeyed his captain.
The ball had not gone out of play, with Matheus Nunes left in acres of space. Robertson was far too slow to take up his wide position. By the time he started to close down Nunes, who had been picked out, a cross had already been delivered - and Haaland got away from Ibrahima Konate too easily to head home.
In truth, Konate had been lucky that Giorgi Mamardashvili saved Haaland’s penalty when the game was goalless. Mamardashvili might have been the culprit when bringing down Jeremy Doku but Konate was at fault for a mix-up with Conor Bradley beforehand.
For City’s second goal, Hugo Ekitike was far too slow to close down Nico Gonzalez’s shot. And when Doku put the showdown beyond reach in the 63rd minute, he was afforded for too much space by Konate to shoot. The Frenchman’s poor form continued. He has had some excellent games but there have been a few dreadful performances.
Clean sheets in victories over Aston Villa and Real Madrid were encouraging. But it was not evidence that a corner had been fully turned. City exploited Liverpool’s vulnerabilities that have already been exposed by Chelsea, Manchester United, Brentford and Crystal Palace.
Only Manchester United have been involved in games with more goals this season. That is scarcely a compliment to Liverpool.
Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool could afford more of a chaotic approach because their frontline was stronger. The triumvirate of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino were arguably the best in Europe at their peak.
That is not the case any longer. Salah is the only one that remains and his best days are behind him despite netting 33 goals last season. Hugo Ekitike is starting to look like the project signing many thought he’d be despite his encouraging start. Florian Wirtz gave his detractors more ammunition to chide him after an underwhelming display.
During the international break, Slot simply has to address the Reds’ defensive vulnerabilities. Otherwise, a fight to stay in the race for Champions League qualification will be afoot.
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