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.

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.

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

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

Stefan Ortega was forced into fine saves from Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai before Virgil van Dijk headed the ball off the post.

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.

Van Dijk 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.

Guardiola’s men at least managed to stem the bleeding by finally retaining some possession towards the end of the first half and Rico Lewis pushed their first attempt at goal just wide.

City started the second half more positively, but still should have been punished several times on the counter-attack.

First, Ortega rushed off his line to block after Gakpo was played in by a superb pass from Andy Robertson.

Salah then skewed a one-on-one with the German goalkeeper over the bar, to the dismay of most of the 60,000 spectators.

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.

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.

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 like his team, Guardiola is living memories of what they used to be as Liverpool already look out of sight for City this season.

© 2024 AFP