Liverpool secured a commanding 2-0 victory over Manchester City at Anfield, with goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah proving decisive. This result marked a statement win for Jurgen Klopp’s side, as they extended their lead to nine points at the top of the Premier League. While City showed improvement in the second half, they were ultimately below their usual standards, as Pep Guardiola’s side remains winless in their last seven matches across all competitions.
In terms of player performances, Liverpool’s goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher earned a solid rating of 7. He had little to do until late in the game when he made a crucial save to deny Kevin De Bruyne. Trent Alexander-Arnold also received a 7 for his impressive assist to Salah, although he was subbed off due to tiredness. Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk were both pivotal in defense, each earning an 8. Gomez was particularly effective in containing Haaland, while Van Dijk not only provided defensive solidity but also came close to scoring himself. Andrew Robertson maintained his consistent form with a 7, providing a key pass to Gakpo for a big chance in the second half.
In midfield, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister both received 7s for their diligent defensive work, while Mohamed Salah was rated 8 for his goal involvement and strong performance, including his penalty conversion. Cody Gakpo also earned an 8 for his constant movement and goal-scoring ability, and Luis Diaz was rated 7 despite playing out of position centrally.
On the substitutes’ front, Jarell Quansah, Darwin Nunez, Curtis Jones, and Harvey Elliott all contributed solidly, with Quansah earning a 7 for his steady performance after coming on for Alexander-Arnold.
For Manchester City, goalkeeper Stefan Ortega was rated 6 after his surprise start, making a couple of important saves but also conceding a penalty. Defensively, Kyle Walker was rated poorly, with a 5 for his errors, which led to Gakpo’s goal. Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji both earned 6s for their efforts, while Nathan Ake received a 6.5 for his solid one-on-one defending against Salah.
Midfielders Rico Lewis, Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, and Matheus Nunes all struggled, each receiving ratings of 5. Phil Foden, who was isolated for much of the match, earned a 6. The substitutes, Jeremy Doku and Savinho, had a greater impact, with Doku earning an 8 for his creativity and threat, and Savinho receiving a 7 for his probing runs.
Liverpool had a dominant performance, while Manchester City needed to regroup after another frustrating result.
