Man City 3-0 Liverpool: Deserved defeat leaves Reds in 8th

Liverpool lost to the better side as Man City eased to victory, but they could also feel aggrieved by a disallowed goal that could have changed the game.

Reds unchanged

Arne Slot named an unchanged XI from the one that beat Real Madrid in the week, with Florian Wirtz retaining his place on the left of attack.

The Reds were boosted by the return of Alexander Isak to the squad, although the Swede wasn’t introduced once the game was already lost.

City dominate first half

The home side were awarded a penalty via a VAR review when Giorgi Mamardashvili was adjudged to have tripped Jeremy Doku after the slightest of contact, but the Georgian goalkeeper saved Erling Haaland’s spot kick.

Liverpool struggled to get much of the ball or create anything, City were certainly the team on top and it was no surprise when Haaland headed them in front before the half hour.

That the goal came from a 20-pass move and a cross without any pressure on the ball showed how passive Liverpool were.

Slot’s side thought they’d equalised when Virgil van Dijk headed home from Salah’s corner, but it was ruled out for Andy Robertson being offside – a ridiculous decision that even Gary Neville on commentary disagreed with.

• VAR’s baffling explanation of Virgil van Dijk goal disallowed vs. Man City

Instead, City doubled the lead in first half stoppage time as Nico Gonzalez’s shot from distance deflected off Van Dijk and past Mamardashvili.

While the goal was unlucky, you could argue Liverpool got what they deserved by standing off City again.

Half time: Man City 2-0 Liverpool

Doku torments Reds

Slot rolled the dice just before the hour and one of his subs, Cody Gakpo, should have scored soon after but he fired over from Bradley’s cross.

It was 3-0 soon after when Doku, who had created problems throughout, curled an effort into the top corner from 20 yards. Again, Liverpool were made to pay for standing off their opponents.

Officially, Liverpool’s first shot on target arrived in the 76th minute when Szoboszlai had an effort saved.

City had chances to make it four, while Liverpool struggled to get anything resembling any pressure and clearly not at the same level as Pep Guardiola’s side.

Defeat – a seventh in 10 games – leaves Liverpool in eighth place going into the final international break of the year, eight points behind leaders Arsenal.