Reigning Champions Manchester City survived an early scare to roar back in the second half and thrash a sorry Liverpool 4-1 at the Etihad on Saturday lunchtime.
After a first 15 minutes that Manchester City dominated possession-wise, some schoolboy defending saw Diogo Jota race into the home side’s penalty area, before laying the ball back for Mohamed Salah to sweep Jurgen Klopp’s side into the lead.
Salah takes it to City!! 🙌
Klopp’s men lead at the Etihad thanks to their star man up top! ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/dxbp04OWEu
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 1, 2023
The lead didn’t last long, however, with a fine Manchester City move ending in Jack Grealish squaring the ball for Julian Alvarez to tap in an equaliser midway through the first half.
No Haaland… no problem! 😜
Julian Alvarez bags his 13th goal of the season to bring City back level after 27 minutes! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/moks8iervg
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 1, 2023
A cagey first half began to see tackles fly in from both sides, and there was uproar when Rodri failed to see red for pulling back Cody Gakpo just moments after he had received a first yellow card for an identical offence.
The second half began with a bang, as City flew out of the blocks to exploit some very sloppy Liverpool defending to allow Riyad Mahrez to cross for Kevin de Bruyne to tap home and give the hosts the lead for the first time in the game.
And minutes later they had extended their lead, courtesy of captain Ilkay Gundogan who finished off an excellent passing move to hand give Manchester City a cushion against Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Insult was added to injury when the excellent Jack Grealish added a fourth goal with 15 minutes to go, and City showed little sign of slowing up in attack.
Jack Grealish bags a well-deserved goal to give Man City a 4-1 lead!! 🙌
He is in some serious form at the moment! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/56NUIqJnEX
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 1, 2023
Grealish went close again with a volley that stung the palms of Alisson, before being taken off in the dying moments to a standing ovation as the Reds defence (just) held firm against the City wave.
The result cuts the lead at the top to just five points ahead of Arsenal’s home tie with Leeds United, while Liverpool continue to fall away from the Champions League places.
📰 Table Of Contents
Player ratings
Manchester City
- GK: Ederson (7) – Had very little to do and was solid in possession as per.
- RB: John Stones (8) – Was excellent when asked to step into central midfield and played an excellent role in any successful build up the Cityzens had.
- CB: Manuel Akanji (7) – Another solid outing from the Swiss defender who is turning into a bargain addition.
- CB: Ruben Dias (6) – Shambolic for the Liverpool goal but recovered well to turn in a decent enough performance.
- LB: Nathan Ake (7) – Dealt with Mo Salah really well for the most part.
- CM: Rodri (6) – Very lucky to avoid being sent off in the first half for a second yellow card offence. Was otherwise solid.
- CM: Kevin de Bruyne (7) – Quiet in the first half but roared into life in the second with a goal and an assist.
- CM: Ilkay Gundogan (8) – Excellent on the pitch despite speculation about his future, and showed excellent poise for the first goal before he ran the midfield in the second half.
- RW: Riyad Mahrez (7) – The Algerian toyed with first Robertson then Tsimikas
- ST: Julian Alvarez (7) – Showed his quality with a well-taken goal to bring his side level. Not a bad stand in for Haaland as things go.
- LW: Jack Grealish (9) – The best player on the pitch by a country mile and grabbed a goal and an assist for his troubles.
Substitutes
- Bernardo Silva (6) – Came on late on and kept the ball well.
- Cole Palmer (N/A)- Came on for the final two minutes.
Liverpool
- GK: Alisson (6) – Made one fine save from Jack Grealish and could do very little for any of the goals.
- RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold (4) – All over the place defensively and could offer very little in attack. Struggled for all four goals.
- CB: Virgil van Dijk (5) – Caught in no man’s land for two of Manchester City’s goals
- CB: Ibrahima Konate (6) – The best of a bad bunch at the back for Liverpool.
- LB: Andy Robertson (4) – Poor in and out of possession, and was taken off 20 minutes from time
- CM: Fabinho (5) – Lucky not to be booked in the opening 10 minutes and didn’t offer a great deal of cover in the second half.
- CM: Jordan Henderson (6) – Offered some spark in the first half and continues to work hard, but clearly a leve below what
- CM: Harvey Elliot (5) – Couldn’t really get into the game and faded fast in the second half.
- RW: Mo Salah (7) – Predictably his side’s biggest threat and opened the scoring with a great strike. Couldn’t find much space after that.
- ST: Cody Gakpo (5) – Didn’t hold the ball up for his side and was lucky not to be booked for simulation when he went over easily in the penalty area.
- LW: Diogo Jota (6) – Started brightly, but faded and was taken off 20 minutes from time as his goal drought now reaches 30 games.
Substitutes
- Kostas Tsimikas (4) – Came on to give Robertson a rest but was just as helpless at fullback.
- Roberto Firmino (4) – Spent most of his cameo chasing shadows.
- Darwin Nunez (4) – Hardly touched the ball
- Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (5) – Added some fresh legs into midfield but was ineffective.
- James Milner (N/A) – On for the final 10 minutes.
Expert analysis
Classic false 9 scenario of Alvarez dropping deep, attracting centre-backs, and De Bruyne running into the space behind there
— Sam Lee (@SamLee) April 1, 2023
Man City are obviously brilliant but there’s goals they concede at times that make your jaw drop in how simple it can be for an opponent
— Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton_) April 1, 2023
I think the days of sitting in your shape and keeping it tight in these big games is over (or at least out of fashion). Arsenal’s games against Liverpool and City are going to be like this – a complete knife fight. They could be any score.
— Daniel Zeqiri (@ZeqiriDan) April 1, 2023
Man City oing their best Liverpool impression when trying to defend transition. That is: really badly. But they, unlike Liverpool, at least maintain the attacking threat. Their over commitment this season does usually come with an upside.
— The Tactical Times (@Tactical_Times) April 1, 2023
What a match Grealish is having, showing pace and awareness in defending well against Salah one moment, creating for Alvarez the next. Fantastic game. #MCILIV
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) April 1, 2023
Fan reaction
Fabinho getting away with a couple without a yellow card coming out.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) April 1, 2023
That was beautiful play from City right there, stop messing around and go for the win. Huge goal for Alvarez. #MCILIV
— Vayam Lahoti (@VayamLahoti) April 1, 2023
If Rodri wasn’t on a yellow he’d have been booked for that, lucky boy.
— James. (@afcjxmes) April 1, 2023
How is that not a second yellow for Rodri?!
It’s a deliberate foul…on a booking. He’s literally just been booked for the same thing!!#MCILIV
— James Dodd (@JamesDodd89) April 1, 2023
Should Rodri have seen a second yellow card for this challenge? 👀#MCILIV pic.twitter.com/zsOHaVv3B8
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) April 1, 2023
Wow! City taking the piss with that goal… 3-1 they’ve came out this second half and turned it up. Grealish having the best game I’ve seen from him since signing.
— True Geordie (@TrueGeordieTG) April 1, 2023
On the one hand I’d expect a response at Anfield, but I do wonder if the air might go out of Liverpool’s season if Chelsea turned them over mid-week. Not that there was much air in it to begin with.
— Daniel Zeqiri (@ZeqiriDan) April 1, 2023
