Man City vs Liverpool LIVE - reaction and analysis
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.
And while the Manchester City manager’s pre-match proclamation titles can’t be won in November but only lost is almost as old as the game itself, it will surely be ringing true for Liverpool counterpart Arne Slot now.Heavy defeat here at a dreary Etihad has effectively signalled the end of his team’s title defence less than a third into the current Premier League season.Read Ian Doyle's on-the-whistle analysis in full HERE.Liverpool head coach Arne Slot reacts as Pep Guardiola watches on during Manchester City's emphatic win at the Etihad (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)19:15Paul WheelockArne Slot on the ruled out Virgil van Dijk goal19:05Paul WheelockVirgil van Dijk reactionThe Liverpool captain has been speaking to Sky Sports post-match about the defeat to Manchester City and the decision to rule out his headed goal when the score was 1-0:In football the officials are deciding the key decisions and we have to deal with it on the pitch. I don't think we were much in trouble but we could have done better.We had to dig deep in the second half.
Subbed.Read Ian Doyle's player ratings in full HERE.Hugo Ekitike's expression says it all during Liverpool's miserable 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at the rainy Etihad Stadium (Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)18:28KEY EVENTFull timeFull time: Man City 3-0 Liverpool. Manchester City 3-0 Liverpool (Doku)He always saves his best for this fixture.17:55Paul GorstStrange decisionsLiverpool's players have just made a string of strange decisions here today in possession.
17:26KEY EVENTHalf-time ratingsGiorgi Mamardashvili 7Bit unlucky to concede penalty but saved Haaland spot kick and good stop from Doku while no chance with first two goals.Conor Bradley 6Evidently asked to press high, giving him plenty to do and up against Doku he more than held his own.Ibrahima Konate 4Somewhat all over the place first half, at fault for the penalty and should have done lot better defending opener.Virgil van Dijk 6Looked to defend aggressively but couldn’t do much about deflecting in the second and harshly had equaliser chalked off.Andy Robertson 5Didn’t close down Nunes to cross for the opener and adjudged offside for what would have been the leveller.Ryan Gravenberch 5Conceded a couple of free-kicks early on and appeared a little dishevelled after that.Alexis Mac Allister 5Took an age to settle but too often didn’t use the ball wisely. Booked.Mohamed Salah 6No faulting his effort, forced some corners and certainly had O’Reilly spooked.Dominik Szoboszlai 5Floated a couple of diagonals but otherwise hounded out.Florian Wirtz 6Plenty of work first half when his ability to dribble helped take Liverpool upfield.Hugo Ekitike 5Given scant service before break and too often chose wrong decision when rare moments in possession.17:23KEY EVENTHalf timeMan City 2-0 Liverpool.Slot's team have been second best all half but that second goal is a killer.