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Manchester City maintained the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal by shrugging off the absence of the injured Erling Haaland to outclass Liverpool with a magnificent display at Etihad Stadium.
City’s 42-goal striker was ruled out with a groin injury, but Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions demonstrated their all-round strength by coming from a goal down against a Liverpool side who have made life so difficult for them in the past, to run out convincing winners.
Liverpool caught City with a counter-attack after 17 minutes to take the lead, Diogo Jota making the break before Mohamed Salah applied a thumping finish.
City responded in devastating fashion with the outstanding Jack Grealish, who made a crucial intervention on Salah when Liverpool had the chance to double their lead, crossing for Julian Alvarez to equalise after 27 minutes.
Alvarez was the creator as City went ahead 53 seconds after the break, his raking pass finding Riyad Mahrez, who crossed for Kevin de Bruyne to slide home from close range.
John Stones delivered a masterclass in an unaccustomed role which saw him advance into midfield but also drop back into defence when required, and with City in total control Ilkay Gundogan added the third after a goalmouth skirmish.
Grealish deserved a goal and it duly arrived in the 74th minute when he timed his arrival perfectly to turn in De Bruyne’s cross as Liverpool ended beaten and bedraggled.
More to follow.
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Manchester City
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Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva -
Squad number80Player namePalmer
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 3-2-4-1
- 31Ederson
- 3Rúben Dias
- 25Akanji
- 6Aké
- 16RodriBooked at 33minsSubstituted forBernardo Silvaat 83′minutes
- 8Gündogan
- 17De Bruyne
- 5Stones
- 19Álvarez
- 26Mahrez
- 10GrealishSubstituted forPalmerat 89′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Walker
- 4Phillips
- 14Laporte
- 18Ortega
- 20Bernardo Silva
- 21Gómez
- 32Perrone
- 80Palmer
- 82Lewis
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 5Konaté
- 4van Dijk
- 26RobertsonSubstituted forTsimikasat 70′minutes
- 19ElliottSubstituted forOxlade-Chamberlainat 70′minutes
- 3Fabinho
- 14Henderson
- 11SalahBooked at 19minsSubstituted forNúñezat 70′minutes
- 18GakpoSubstituted forMilnerat 82′minutes
- 20JotaSubstituted forFirminoat 70′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Gomez
- 7Milner
- 9Firmino
- 15Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 21Tsimikas
- 27Núñez
- 29Arthur
- 32Matip
- 62Kelleher
- Referee:
- Simon Hooper
- Attendance:
- 52,877
Live Text
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Match ends, Manchester City 4, Liverpool 1.
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Second Half ends, Manchester City 4, Liverpool 1.
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Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Virgil van Dijk.
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Foul by Julián Álvarez (Manchester City).
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Konstantinos Tsimikas (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Jordan Henderson (Liverpool).
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Substitution, Manchester City. Cole Palmer replaces Jack Grealish.
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Foul by Julián Álvarez (Manchester City).
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Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
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Attempt saved. Julián Álvarez (Manchester City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne with a through ball.
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Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Konstantinos Tsimikas (Liverpool).
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Substitution, Manchester City. Bernardo Silva replaces Rodri.
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Substitution, Liverpool. James Milner replaces Cody Gakpo.
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Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
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Attempt blocked. Rodri (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez.
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Attempt saved. Jack Grealish (Manchester City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
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Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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