Liverpool’s statement victory over Man City makes one thing clear – the title race is over | OneFootball

Mind the gap. It looks unbridgeable now: 11 points to Arsenal, a barely credible 20 to Manchester City. A title race that began with City as red-hot favourites could be almost over before February is. The dominant team this season, Liverpool were vastly superior at the Etihad Stadium.

With Arne Slot borrowing from Pep Guardiola’s tactical blueprint to outwit the master with his twin false nines, with the magnificent Mohamed Salah underlining his credentials to win the individual awards, with Dominik Szoboszlai delivering perhaps the finest display of his Liverpool career, with Virgil van Dijk marshalling a defence that had conceded too often in the last two-and-a-half months to deliver a display of defiance, this felt the victory that ended any doubt. A 20th league title is bound for Anfield.

Slot, needless to say, was too cautious to say as much. “What we do know is no one saw us a title contender at the start,” he claimed. Now they seem the only contender left. “In every other league, having a lead like this would be comfortable,” Slot argued. There was no hiding his pleasure at the result, though: “If you play away at the Etihad and win there it is always a big win, no matter what the league table looks like.”

Dramatically different after a weekend when Arsenal lost but Slot counselled: “It is only three days ago someone asked me if we had a dip.” But a team who wobbled at Everton and Aston Villa made a statement at the Etihad. There have been a few from Slot’s side this season, the first on the other side of Manchester, the majority at Anfield. A double over City signalled the shift in the balance of power: from blue to red, Manchester to Merseyside.

For Liverpool, it was a first league win at the Etihad since 2015, for Guardiola a first top-flight defeat at home to them. For City, it has been a chastening few days, run ragged first by Kylian Mbappe and now Salah. There was a time when City were Europe and England’s best. Now they have suffered comprehensive defeats to the Champions League holders and the Premier League leaders in a few days. “We are far away from them,” sighed Guardiola. “That is the reality.”

This has been a symbolic spell, showing the undignified decline from mighty to mediocre, the need for change and the difficulty in moving on. Guardiola said he picked: “A so, so young team that will be the future of this club.” He left out Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan, men he called “legends of the club”, looking for fresh legs. Instead, he got fresh problems.

And the familiar feeling of defeat. As Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to 23 league games, City suffered a 14th loss in 27 matches in all competitions. They have conceded 51 goals in that time. By coincidence, Salah’s personal haul now stands at 51 for the season: reaching 30 goals, he has 21 assists, too. For an 11th time in the top flight this season, he both scored and made a goal. On this occasion, so did Szoboszlai, granted more freedom to run as Guardiola emptied the centre of the pitch, his tactics backfiring. He tried trading control for chaos; leaving Nico Gonzalez alone in an undermanned midfield was a risk that did not pay off; no wonder the new signing was nowhere near Szoboszlai when he scored.

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Mo Salah scored his 25th Premier League goal of the season as Liverpool took the lead (Getty)

And the manager who revived the false-nine tactic saw Liverpool deploy a striker-less shape, unexpectedly but effectively. Guardiola was beaten by Guardiolaisation. For the first time, Slot fielded a side without a centre-forward, but with Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones advancing from midfield. “We played with two number 10s,” said the Hungarian.

Liverpool troubled City with runners from deep, balls behind their defence and the irresistible Salah. They scored first from a well-worked short corner, devised by the set-piece coach, and former City analyst, Aaron Briggs. “Someone came up with a brilliant plan and we knew that space could be there,” said Slot. It practiced on the training ground on Saturday and brought a goal on Sunday. Alexis Mac Allister skimmed a pass across the turf to Szoboszlai, who laid it back for Salah. His shot was deflected in off Nathan Ake for a 21st goal in his last 20 league games. “The numbers speak for themselves,” added Slot.

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Dominik Szoboszlai doubled Liverpool's lead in the first half (Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

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Omar Marmoush provided a fine finish for a goal only for it to be ruled out for offside (AFP via Getty Images)

In a tale of two Egyptians, both found the net but, fine as Omar Marmoush’s angled finish was, City’s recent signing was offside. Marmoush started as a striker for the first time, with Erling Haaland still absent. He was at least lively, denied by Alisson from another rasping shot. Jeremy Doku was bright while Abdukodir Khusanov made a trio of terrific blocks. Yet the positives for City ended there. Kevin de Bruyne had a traumatic time, almost hitting the corner flag with a particularly wayward shot.

Nor did Josko Gvardiol have much to relish as Liverpool exposed City’s defensive frailties on their left. It brought the second goal. Gvardiol, sent sliding in the wrong direction by Mbappe four days earlier, was turned inside out by Salah. He passed, Szoboszlai shot, Ederson going to his right as the ball went past him on his left. It was another indication of a team who have lost their way.

But Liverpool were clinical. Ederson made a spectacular save from Luis Diaz but was beaten by the first two shots on target he faced. City had plenty of possession but, minus Haaland, no incision. “We get to the byline a lot but then just from there we missed the magic,” lamented Guardiola. Liverpool were resilient. “If you play away against a Pep team it is almost impossible to have more ball possession,” said Slot. “We knew we had to defend a lot and that is what we did really well.”

They did. The week that began with Liverpool showing nerves against lowly Wolves finished with them displaying none as they saw off City. “"It is easier for us to not get excited,” said Slot. But it will be hard for anyone to peg them back.