Liverpool dominated the match against Manchester City 2-0 at Anfield on Sunday, extending their lead at the top of the table to 11 points. Cody Gakpo's early strike during a frenetic opening 20 minutes set the tone, and Mohamed Salah's composed 78th-minute penalty sealed the win in a match where the Reds showcased relentless attacking football.
The home crowd roared as Liverpool applied incessant pressure from the very start, with City struggling to contain their intensity. Dominik Szoboszlai tested Stefan Ortega multiple times, while Virgil van Dijk's towering header off a Szoboszlai cross was tipped onto the post by Ortega. The breakthrough came when Alexander-Arnold's precise pass found Salah, who threaded the ball across City's backline for Gakpo to slot home at the Kop end.
Liverpool's dominance continued, as Van Dijk narrowly missed a header and Gakpo shot over. City managed to slow the game's pace, but they offered little threat in the first half. Caoimhin Kelleher was untroubled in goal.
The second half began with City attempting to find their rhythm, but Liverpool remained the more dangerous side. Salah intercepted a Bernardo Silva pass and surged towards goal, but his effort sailed over the bar. City’s best spell followed, with Erling Haaland’s shot blocked and Kevin De Bruyne denied by Kelleher after Van Dijk’s rare lapse.
Substituting Darwin Nunez and Jarell Quansah with 20 minutes left played to the advantage. The relentless pressure from Nunez forced Ruben Dias into a mistake. Diaz stole the ball, then drew a foul by Ortega, and Salah scored easily from the penalty for his second goal of the night, doubling Liverpool's advantage.
Harvey Elliott's late injury comeback as a substitute sealed off almost the perfect day for the Reds, as they have now garnered 34 points from 13 games. With this, Liverpool has further stamped out its title credentials, leaving City at 11 points back in the Premier League run.
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