Key Takeaways:
- Manchester City defeated Liverpool 3-0 at Etihad Stadium in the 11th round of the Premier League and moved within four points of leaders Arsenal
- Pep Guardiola marked his 1000th managerial match with a commanding victory, featuring goals from Erling Haaland, Nico González, and Jérémy Doku
- Liverpool sit eighth in the table after suffering their fourth straight Premier League away defeat, last falling behind Arsenal by eight points
Match Overview and Tactical Choices
Manchester City recorded a resounding 3-0 triumph over Liverpool at Etihad Stadium in the Premier League’s marquee fixture of the 11th round. This victory allowed City to capitalise on Arsenal’s recent slip, narrowing the deficit to four points at the summit. The occasion also coincided with Pep Guardiola’s 1000th match as a manager, adding further significance to an already vital result.
We’ve got Guardiola 🩵
Congratulations on reaching 1000 matches as a manager, @PepTeam 👏 pic.twitter.com/ZyjEgHqwjC
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 9, 2025
Guardiola shook up his starting line-up from the recent Borussia Dortmund fixture, recalling Rúben Dias, Bernardo Silva, and Rayan Cherki, replacing John Stones, Tijjani Reijnders, and Savinho. This adjustment, however, restored the same eleven that began the previous weekend’s match against Bournemouth.
For Liverpool, Arne Slot retained the same side that started the midweek meeting against Real Madrid. Hugo Ekitike continued to spearhead the attack, supported by Florian Wirtz on the left and Mohamed Salah on the right. Alexander Isak returned to the squad after injury but was named among the substitutes and did not feature.
Key Events and Match Analysis
City began confidently, monopolising possession, yet Liverpool threatened first as Salah’s early effort failed to trouble Gianluigi Donnarumma. The seventh minute saw Doku dribble past Bradley, drawing an awkward challenge from Konaté. The Belgian winger advanced into the penalty box, where a slight touch by Mamardashvili was initially unpunished, but after a VAR review, referee Chris Kavanagh pointed to the spot – a decision that seemed harsh. Despite the controversy, Mamardashvili denied Haaland from the spot in the 13th minute.
Doku continued to torment Bradley, orchestrating several attacks. In the 17th minute, his low cross found Cherki, whose 15-metre shot was blocked by Konaté and deflected over. Doku forced another save from Mamardashvili in the 27th minute with a near-post effort.
Manchester City finally broke the deadlock in the 29th minute. Núñez delivered a cross from the right, Konaté misjudged a defensive header, and the ball clipped Haaland before nestling in the net. The Norwegian thus redeemed himself, giving the home side a deserved lead.
Liverpool thought they had found an equaliser in the 38th minute when Van Dijk’s header, from Salah’s corner, beat Donnarumma. However, VAR disallowed the goal for offside due to Andy Robertson’s position in front of the goalkeeper, ruling he interfered with play – a contentious call that led to protests from Arne Slot.
As seven minutes of stoppage time began, City pressed on and forced multiple corners. Eventually, the ball fell to Nico González at the edge of the area; his effort took a deflection off Van Dijk, wrong-footing Mamardashvili and making it 2-0 before the interval.
Second-Half Developments and Decisive Moments
Liverpool emerged after the break with greater urgency. In the 50th minute, Donnarumma misjudged a long ball intended for Salah but was bailed out by Dias’s crucial last-ditch clearance. Doku, meanwhile, maintained his relentless direct play, dribbling past defenders repeatedly but shooting straight at Mamardashvili in the 55th minute.
In response, Slot replaced Ekitike and Robertson with Gakpo and Kerkez, while City introduced Savinho for Cherki. Liverpool nearly benefited from a González own goal after Bradley’s sharp delivery in the 57th minute; the ball flew just over. Moments later, Gakpo latched onto a Bradley cross at the far post but failed to convert the opportunity.
Manchester City’s pressure told in the 63rd minute as Doku, fed by O’Riley at the edge of the area, outmanoeuvred Konaté and brilliantly found the far corner, making it 3-0 and securing his place as man of the match.
Despite Liverpool’s increased attacking threat, Donnarumma saved a Szoboszlai effort in the 76th minute for the visitors’ first on-target shot. In the 80th minute, Salah broke through one-on-one but rolled his shot wide, missing Liverpool’s last notable chance.
With this result, Liverpool have now lost four consecutive away league fixtures, a streak they have not endured since 2012.
