Liverpool asserted its dominance in the Premier League title race with a decisive 2-0 victory over Manchester City on Sunday, moving nine points clear at the top of the standings and leaving the defending champions 11 points behind. Goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah highlighted the growing disparity between the two teams, further deepening the crisis for City, which now sits fifth in the league.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot praised his team’s performance, stating, “We weren’t perfect, but we came close to perfection, and that’s the only way you can beat a quality team like City.” The win marks a troubling trend for City, which has now gone seven games without a victory across all competitions, suffering six losses during this stretch.
The defeat at Anfield could have been even more pronounced, with Virgil van Dijk hitting the post and Salah missing a clear chance on goal. The home crowd took aim at City manager Pep Guardiola, chanting for his dismissal, while Guardiola responded by holding up six fingers, a nod to his six league titles during an era of unprecedented success. “Maybe they’re right that I must be sacked for the results we have,” he acknowledged. “But I didn’t expect that at Anfield. It’s part of the game, and I understand completely.”
As City struggles, Liverpool continues to thrive under Slot, who has led the team to 11 wins in 13 league matches this season. The victory against City followed a 2-0 win over European champions Real Madrid and a 4-0 rout of German champions Bayer Leverkusen. “I don’t think anyone, including me, would have predicted this,” Slot remarked about his team’s strong start.
In stark contrast, City’s players appear to lack confidence, having recently squandered a three-goal lead against Feyenoord in the Champions League, just days after suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat to Tottenham. Guardiola’s team has now lost four consecutive league matches for the first time in his managerial career, a feat not seen since 2008.
United’s Resurgence Under Amorim
Meanwhile, Manchester United fans celebrated a much-needed boost with a 4-0 victory over Everton at Old Trafford, marking the first Premier League game for new manager Ruben Amorim. The home crowd responded enthusiastically, chanting “ole” as United delivered one of its best performances of the season, a stark contrast to the boos that characterized the end of former manager Erik ten Hag’s tenure.
In his third match in charge, Amorim’s squad showcased their potential, with Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee each netting two goals. “It is a nice result,” Rashford said. “It’s important with a new coach and a new way of playing; we are still learning.” With the win, United climbed to ninth place, just four points off the top four.
While on-field performances have improved, off-field protests against rising ticket prices continue, with banners reading “Stop exploiting loyalty” displayed inside and outside the stadium. Under Amorim’s guidance, United’s strikers have found their form, with Rashford scoring three goals in three games, a significant improvement from his previous tally of four in 18.
Chelsea Maintains Pressure
In other Premier League action, Chelsea secured a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa, leveling their points with second-place Arsenal. Goals from Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernandez, and Cole Palmer ensured Chelsea’s continued pursuit of their London rivals. For Villa, the defeat marked their eighth consecutive game without a win, dropping them to 12th place.
Spurs Stumble
Tottenham Hotspur, coming off a significant victory against City, failed to capitalize on their momentum, settling for a 1-1 draw against seventh-place Fulham. Brennan Johnson opened the scoring for Spurs in the second half, but a late equalizer from substitute Tom Cairney, who was later sent off, denied Tottenham the chance to edge closer to the top four.
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