LIVERPOOL – Taunted by the Kop with chants of “getting sacked in the morning”, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola flashed a wry smile and held up six fingers to remind delighted Liverpool fans how many titles He won the English Premier League.

It was an unforgettable moment on December 1 on Merseyside that could spell the end of Manchester City’s dominance of the English top flight.

Liverpool won 2-0 with goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah against a struggling City to move 11 points clear of the champions of the last four seasons and nine ahead of second-placed Arsenal.

City looked devoid of energy and ideas as they were largely outplayed by Arne Slot’s side, managing just two shots on target. It was their fourth successive Premier League defeat and sixth in seven in all competitions and they sit fifth in the table.

Guardiola, who has been tearing up the record books since arriving at City, is now taking unwanted steps.

Before December 1, he had never lost four league matches in a row during his successful coaching career. And while he always found solutions to every problem, his magic touch temporarily abandoned him.

There is no chance that City’s owners will be without one of the greatest football managers in history, especially as he recently has agreed to a two-year contract extension. But he finds himself in uncharted territory.

“I didn’t expect them to chant that, maybe I deserve to be sacked,” the Spaniard said. “I wasn’t expecting that, but it’s okay. When you win, you laugh. When you lose, they laugh and you have to accept it.

“But I’m practical.” I’m not depressed. When I think I can’t do it, we’ll talk about it with the club, but I feel like I want to do it. Life isn’t always perfect. Now we are not as strong as before, that’s a reality.

While City are clearly missing influential midfielder Rodri, among others, no one could have predicted how one player’s serious injury could have completely derailed Guardiola’s winning machine.

It took them 39 minutes to try to score at Anfield, with striker Erling Haaland a virtual spectator.

City also looked heavy at the back and the way they conceded the penalty for Liverpool’s second goal, scored by Salah, was comical.