Man City make ominous statement on chastening night for Liverpool

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Manchester City delivered a deafening statement of intent to celebrate manager Pep Guardiola's landmark 1,000th match in management as Liverpool were dismissed out of hand at Etihad Stadium.City's 3-0 win carried an ominous warning for Premier League leaders Arsenal, whose advantage at the top was cut to four points, while it inflicted a grievous wound on Liverpool and their hopes of back-to-back titles.Guardiola had to navigate City through troubled waters last season as their historic run of four successive titles ended, with questions raised about his ability to rebuild.After years of almost unbroken success with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City, was Guardiola still eager enough to create another team of champions?This was the most emphatic answer from Guardiola and his players, a performance that was at once dazzling, dangerous and full of the power and tempo that suggests City are very much back in shape to challenge for the Premier League trophy.If Guardiola had asked for a gift from City's players to commemorate their inspirational manager on his big day, this was the perfect present.Guardiola saw it that way, as he said: "I just want to say thank you to the players, backroom staff to give me that present. I'm proud to do it here in Manchester with my City."The spectacle would have been the opposite of celebratory for Arsenal and, very painfully here, Liverpool.Arsenal are still in pole position, but this is only after 11 games and City have proved in the past they enjoy making opponents feel their breath on their shoulders.After Arsenal dropped two points late on at Sunderland on Saturday, the door was suddenly ajar.

Liverpool were over-run by a revitalised City.It is not a defeat that ends their hopes of keeping hold of their crown - we are only 11 games into the season, after all.However, it is increasingly difficult to see how Liverpool can present a serious challenge in their current shape after a fifth loss in six league games.City preyed on Liverpool's vulnerable midfield and defence throughout, as others have done this season.Slot was unhappy that Virgil van Dijk's header, which would have made it 1-1 before half-time, was disallowed for offside.Defender Andy Robertson, who was certainly in an offside position, ducked in front of City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to allow the ball to drift in. It was a masterpiece that will live long in the memory.City weaved their way out from facing Liverpool pressure near a corner flag at their own end of the pitch with a glorious sequence of passes from back to front.This symphony of Guardiola's style ended in a familiar crescendo as Haaland soared above Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate to meet Matheus Nunes' cross, time almost standing still as the header dropped beyond keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.Nunes' cross that set up Haaland's header was the 19th pass in the move that simply cut through Liverpool until it reached its final flourish.It could be used as a monument to Guardiola's footballing philosophy.Haaland had already uncharacteristically wasted a chance to put City ahead as his penalty was saved by Mamardashvili after the keeper was penalised for upending Jeremy Doku, but it was not long before this remarkable striker scored his 99th Premier League goal.Doku is a transformative symbol of this new City.

Bradley was run ragged by the pace and physical presence of Doku – although surely no-one could cope with the Belgian in this form.Doku was simply unstoppable, a player now in full flower after finally becoming accustomed to Guardiola's high demands following a £55.4m move from Rennes in August 2023.Rayan Cherki adds subtlety in midfield, while Phil Foden is back to his best and Bernardo Silva still has all the old guile to keep City moving with his prompting.It was a resounding win in every way, giving Arsenal and their manager Mikel Arteta - formerly Guardiola's assistant - a hefty helping of food for thought over the international break.For Liverpool, this was a return to earth with a resounding thud after their recent upturn.They now languish in eighth place, eight points behind Arsenal and four adrift of City, but with momentum stalled. Liverpool's tally of five defeats this season now eclipses the four they suffered when they won the title.And there are still disturbing signs that Liverpool have yet to adapt to the summer influx of almost £450m worth of new talent.Hugo Ekitike, one of the successes, was subdued here while £125m fellow striker Alexander Isak was an unused substitute after three weeks out with a groin injury.It was another day of suffering and disappointment for £116m playmaker Florian Wirtz, whose struggles were made worse by the taunts of Manchester City's fans, remembering how he turned down a move to Etihad Stadium in order to join Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen.Wirtz, at this stage, clearly struggles with the physicality of the Premier League.