Liverpool opened up a nine-point lead on the high of the Premier League as Manchester City’s disaster deepened in a 2-0 defeat at Anfield on Sunday.

For the most recent Premier League information, bookmark The South African website’s devoted part for free-to-read content material

Cody Gakpo’s Twelfth-minute aim was scant reward for the Reds’ first-half domination they usually sealed an 18th win in 20 video games beneath Arne Slot because of Mohamed Salah’s penalty.

City are actually 11 factors off the runaway leaders down in fifth and winless in seven video games, together with six defeats.

Add a little magic to your every day with Betway by discovering a world of casino games

Arsenal and Chelsea are Liverpool’s closest challengers as City seem set to lose their crown as English champions after profitable an unprecedented 4 consecutive titles.

City’s solely level since October 26 even felt like a defeat as they blew a 3-0 lead within the ultimate quarter-hour to attract 3-3 with Feyenoord within the Champions League in midweek.

Pep Guardiola responded by dropping goalkeeper Ederson, whereas Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias had been additionally restored to the defence.

But there was no response from the defending champions as they had been blown away within the opening levels.

Stefan Ortega was pressured into nice saves from Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai earlier than Virgil van Dijk crashed a header off the put up.

City may barely get out of their half within the opening quarter and the aim duly arrived when Gakpo bundled in Salah’s engaging cross to the again put up.

Van Dijk powered one other massive headed likelihood inches extensive as the possibilities continued to come back for Liverpool.

Even throughout City’s best seasons beneath Guardiola, they’ve struggled to comprise the facility of the Anfield crowd.

City’s solely away win towards Liverpool since 2003 stays behind closed doorways through the coronavirus-impacted 2021/22 season.

Guardiola’s males did at the least handle to stem the bleeding by lastly maintaining some possession in the direction of the tip of the primary half and Rico Lewis prodded their first try on aim simply extensive.

City began the second interval extra positively, however ought to nonetheless have been punished a number of instances on the counter-attack.

Firstly, Ortega rushed off his line to dam after Gakpo was performed in by an excellent Andy Robertson move.

Salah then skewed a one-on-one with the German goalkeeper over the bar to the consternation of many of the 60,000 crowd.

Another turnover deep inside their very own half lastly value City the decisive second aim.

Luis Diaz robbed Walker and surged by means of earlier than he was introduced down by Ortega.

Salah had fired extensive from the spot in Wednesday’s 2-0 Champions League win over Real Madrid.

This time the Egyptian discovered the underside nook for his thirteenth aim of the season to spherical off Liverpool’s dream week.

Guardiola emptied Jeremy Doku, Savinho, Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne off the bench within the second half seeking a lifeline.

However, City’s reliance on Erling Haaland for targets was once more evident as he was marked out of the sport by Van Dijk, who had been imperious till a late lapse of focus ought to have gifted City a comfort.

He offered the ball to De Bruyne, however he couldn’t beat the in-form Caoimhin Kelleher.

Guardiola was taunted with chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” within the closing levels.

The City boss responded by displaying six fingers, one for every of his Premier League title wins up to now seven seasons.

But like his facet, Guardiola resides on reminiscences of what they’ve been as Liverpool already look out of sight for City this season.

Are Liverpool now shoo-ins for the 2024/25 Premier League title?

Let us know by clicking on the remark tab under this text or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1

Subscribe to The South African web site’s newsletters and observe us on @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the most recent information.

For the most recent rugby information, bookmark The South African website’s devoted part for free-to-read content material

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse