Liverpool moved closer to winning the Premier League after securing a crucial 2-0 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Mohamed Salah was the star of the show, scoring one goal and setting up another, as Arne Slot’s team delivered a dominant performance against the reigning champions.
Match Summary
- Date: Sunday, 23 February
- Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
- Score: Man City 0-2 Liverpool
Salah opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a shot that deflected off Nathan Ake and wrong-footed Ederson. Before halftime, Salah turned provider, setting up Dominik Szoboszlai for Liverpool’s second goal in the 37th minute.
Despite creating some chances, City struggled without their injured striker Erling Haaland. Liverpool held firm to secure their first league win at the Etihad since 2015.
Title Race Standings
| Position | Club | Played | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 27 | +38 | 64 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 26 | +28 | 53 |
| 3 | Nott’m Forest | 26 | +11 | 47 |
| 4 | Man City | 26 | +15 | 44 |
| 5 | Newcastle | 26 | +10 | 44 |
Liverpool now hold an 11-point lead over Arsenal, although the Gunners have a game in hand. City, meanwhile, remain fourth, with their hopes of defending the title looking increasingly slim.
How the Game Unfolded
City started well, but Liverpool soon took control. Salah capitalized on a mistake from Rico Lewis, and his first-time shot took a deflection off Ake to give the visitors an early lead.
City thought they had equalized through Omar Marmoush, but his goal was ruled out for offside. Liverpool then doubled their advantage when Salah used his strength to beat Josko Gvardiol before laying off a perfect pass for Szoboszlai to calmly finish.
Szoboszlai nearly set up a third goal for Curtis Jones in the 56th minute, but VAR ruled it out for offside. City pushed forward in search of a comeback, with Marmoush forcing a save from Alisson, but Liverpool’s defense, led by Virgil van Dijk, stood strong.
Salah Shines as Liverpool’s Leader
Mohamed Salah was once again Liverpool’s key player. The 32-year-old’s future at the club remains uncertain, but he continues to deliver outstanding performances. His goal and assist took his tally to 41 goal contributions this season, putting him within touching distance of the all-time record held by Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole.
Beyond his numbers, Salah’s influence was evident in the way he led Liverpool’s attack, using his pace and intelligence to trouble City’s defense. While other players like Van Dijk and Szoboszlai played crucial roles, it was Salah’s brilliance that made the difference.
City Miss Haaland’s Presence
Without Erling Haaland, City lacked a natural striker to finish their chances. Winger Jeremy Doku troubled Liverpool’s defense, often beating Trent Alexander-Arnold, but there was no target man to convert his crosses.
Marmoush, who scored a hat-trick against Newcastle last week, did his best in a central role but struggled to break down Liverpool’s solid backline. Guardiola will hope to have Haaland back soon, especially with City’s Champions League campaign already over.
What the Managers Said
Pep Guardiola:
“If you lose, you have to lose the way we lost today. I saw many things that make me believe this club has a bright future. Except for Kevin De Bruyne and Nathan Ake, our team is full of young players.”
Arne Slot:
“Three days ago, people were saying we were struggling after the draw at Villa. Now, after this win, everything changes again. We work hard every day to achieve these results, and we have to keep going for the next three months.”
What’s Next?
Liverpool will look to maintain their lead when they face their next challenge, while City must regroup quickly as they prepare to take on Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday. With the title slipping further away, Guardiola’s team now faces a battle just to stay in the top four.
