Liverpool took their opportunity to open up an incredible 11-point gap on reigning Premier League champions Manchester City with a pulsating 2-0 victory at Anfield.
So often one of the fixture calendar’s marquee occasions, this latest instalment between two fierce title rivals didn’t disappoint, with Liverpool racing into an early lead through Cody Gakpo.
It could so easily have been worse for ragged City, whose crisis is deepening by the week, as Virgil van Dijk planted a free header against the post and Stefan Ortega – chosen ahead of Ederson – rebuffed a pair of Dominik Szoboszlai efforts.
Liverpool were purring, better in every department than their struggling visitors. Trent Alexander-Arnold was next to graze Ortega’s right-hand post, while the slickness of his passing was causing chaos for City’s Rodri-less midfield.
The second period only got worse. Arne Slot’s side were piercing with every fast-paced attack, and Gakpo nearly had a second when released by a wonderful Andy Robertson pass, only for Matheus Nunes to make a superb recovery tackle.
Salah let City off the hook moments later after a horrible mix-up between Bernardo Silva and Manuel Akanji, screwing wide when one-on-one with Ortega, but the Egyptian is rarely denied.
The day firmly belonged to Liverpool, and Salah made sure of that by thumping a confident penalty beyond Ortega – who had wiped out Luis Diaz to concede the spot kick – to cap another fine display. City’s title defence appears all but over.
Carra: No way back for City
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher:
“I don’t think there is anyway back for Man City now. Sometimes you need to lose so people realise what you have done. This season, Man City will not win the Premier League.”
