Liverpool opened a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League as Manchester City’s crisis deepened in a 2-0 defeat at Anfield on Sunday.

Cody Gakpo’s 12th-minute goal did little to reward the Reds’ first-half dominance and they sealed an 18th victory in 20 games under Arne Slot thanks to Mohamed Salah’s penalty.

City are now 11 points behind the runaway leaders, fifth and without a win in seven games, including six defeats.

Arsenal and Chelsea are Liverpool’s closest challengers as City look set to lose their English championship crown after winning an unprecedented four consecutive titles.

Pep Guardiola was taunted by chanting “you will be sacked tomorrow morning” in the closing stages.

The City boss responded by showing six fingers, one for each of his Premier League victories over the last seven seasons.

But Guardiola insisted he was not living in the past as he sought to turn around the worst streak of his managerial career.

“When you win, you laugh, when they win, they laugh. It’s part of the game,” Guardiola said of his interaction with the crowd.

“Now it will be very difficult to repeat (winning the title) this season but the whole club, we will think together, to try to come back strongly,” Guardiola said.

City’s only point since October 26 even looked like a defeat as they threw away a 3-0 lead in the final 15 minutes to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League in midweek.

Guardiola responded by dropping goalkeeper Ederson, while Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias were reinstated in defense.

But there was no response from the reigning champions, who were blown away in the first few rounds.

City could barely get out of their own half in the first quarter and the goal duly arrived when Gakpo bundled in Salah’s tempting cross at the far post.

– Imperious Van Dijk –

Virgil van Dijk hit the post and generated another big chance with his header inches wide as the chances continued to come for Liverpool.

Even during City’s best seasons under Guardiola, they struggled to contain the power of the Anfield crowd.

City’s only away win against Liverpool since 2003 remains behind closed doors during the coronavirus-affected 2021/22 season.

“Today I really stood out,” Slot said on whether it was his best day as Liverpool boss today. “The culmination of the energy we had and the energy of the crowd.”

Guardiola’s men at least managed to stem the bleeding either side of half-time, but should still have been punished on several occasions on the counter-attack.

Stefan Ortega saved from Gakpo and Trent Alexander-Arnold, either side of a superb miss from Salah one-on-one with the German goalkeeper.

Another turnover deep in their half ultimately cost City the decisive second goal.

Luis Diaz stole from Walker and jumped before being taken down by Ortega.

Salah shot wide from the spot in Wednesday’s 2-0 Champions League win over Real Madrid.

This time the Egyptian found the bottom corner for his 13th goal of the season to cap off Liverpool’s dream week.

“Real Madrid and Manchester City have been and still are very good, with managers who have won so many trophies, so it’s always nice to come out on top in those situations,” Slot added.

“But they managed to win every three days. We understand that what we want to achieve is more than just winning once or twice, even against these big teams, if you want to win big things.

Guardiola dumped Jeremy Doku, Savinho, Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne off the bench in the second half in search of a lifeline.

However, City’s reliance on Erling Haaland for goals was again evident as he was ruled out of the game by Van Dijk, who had been imperious until a late lapse in concentration should have offer some consolation to City.

He presented the ball to De Bruyne, but he couldn’t beat the in-form Caoimhin Kelleher.