Cody Gapko and Mohamed Salah scored in each half as Liverpool consigned Manchester City to a 2-0 defeat in their English premier League (EPL) encounter at Anfield on Sunday.
Salah scored the second goal after Gapko opened scoring in a nervy encounter in which Manchester City could not provide answers to Liverpool’s league onslaught.
Fresh from the defeat to Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium last weekend, Pep Guardiola dropped Ederson Moraes, the team’s first-choice goalkeeper, to the bench, but Ruben Dias returned to bolster the defence.
Regardless, Liverpool were on top in the early exchanges and went close through Dominik Szoboszlai’s saved effort. Virgil van Dijk also hit the post from the resulting corner-kick.
Gapko would eventually hand the home side the lead minutes later, burying Salah’s pass at the back post for 1-0 in the 13th minute.
Dijk had the chance to double their lead but the captain headed wide from a promising position before the first half ended.
Salah also fluffed his line before the hour mark when a defensive error handed him the chance to double Liverpool’s lead. The Egyptian striker saw his shot sail wide of the mark, while Gapko also had a shot saved by Stefan Ortega.
City’s second-choice goalkeeper eventually gifted Liverpool a penalty when he brought down Luis Diaz, and Salah confidently dispatched to seal the 2-0 win.
Victory increased the Reds’ tally to 34 points from 13 matches, extending their lead at the top to nine points ahead of second-placed Arsenal.
Man City, on the other hand, dropped to fifth position. It is unchartered territory for Guardiola who sees his team suffer a fourth consecutive EPL defeat this season.
Elsewhere, Ruben Amorim won his first EPL match as Manchester United manager with a 4-0 demolition of Everton. Two goals each from Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee ensured all three points for the Red Devils. Chelsea also dismantled Aston Villa 3-0 to move joint-second with 25 points.
RESULTS
Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City
Manchester United 4-0 Everton
Chelsea 3-0 Aston Villa
Tottenham 1-1 Fulham
