2 hours ago
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Manchester City proved they're well and truly title contenders as they thrashed Liverpool at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon.
Arne Slot's men never got going and found themselves deservedly 2-0 down at half-time after goals from Erling Haaland and Nico Gonzalez. Jeremy Doku, named man of the match, later made it three with a stellar strike from distance.
Liverpool's bus back to Merseyside will be a dejected one, while Pep Guardiola and Co go into the international break flying high and just four points adrift of league leaders Arsenal.
How did both sets of players fare? Daily Mail Sport's Jack Gaughan and Lewis Steele take a look.
Manchester City (4-1-4-1)
Gianluigi Donnarumma - 7
Not an awful lot to do but one top save from Dominik Szoboszlai and then smothering Mo Salah’s follow up effort.
Manchester City got the better of Liverpool on a drizzly day at the Etihad
The visitors never got going and found themselves 2-0 down at half-time after goals from Erling Haaland and Nico Gonzalez
Jeremy Doku, the day's man of the match, later made it three with a stellar strike from distance
Matheus Nunes – 7.5
Keeps improving at right back. Sublime assist for Erling Haaland and generally solid defensively, barring one Cody Gakpo chance.
Ruben Dias - 7
One huge intervention when sliding to prevent Salah bounding past Donnarumma at 2-0. City looked organised back there and that’s down to him.
Josko Gvardiol – 6.5
Made one tackle all day, which summed up the control with which he played. Did however get caught a couple of times in the second half.
Nico O’Reilly – 8
Rocky few minutes before half time but handled Salah superbly. Rayan Ait-Nouri has a problem getting back in.
Nico Gonzalez - 8
Another peerless performance at the base of City’s midfield. First goal since March to boot. Pass completion over 90 per cent.
Rayan Cherki – 6.5
Dangerous around the box and moves the ball quickly in transition but still has to learn off the ball work.
Gonzalez didn't put a foot wrong in midfield and got his name on the scoresheet
But Doku was City's standout, he caused Conor Bradley all sorts of problem on the left-wing
Bernardo Silva – 7.5
Really industrious work from Silva in helping Gonzalez take charge of midfield. Barely wasted a pass and covered so much ground.
Phil Foden – 7.5
Deserved a role in one of the goals because City again played at the pace he dictated. Another encouraging day.
Jeremy Doku - 9
Absolutely unplayable. Stunning goal cutting inside, had Conor Bradley chasing all afternoon. Completed seven of eight attempted dribbles.
Erling Haaland – 7.5
Dusted himself down after the penalty miss to score and occupied the Liverpool back two. Ninety-nine Premier League goals and counting.
Subs
Savinho (for Cherki, 53) – 6.5
Omar Marmoush (for Doku, 74) - 6
Pep Guardiola's side look well and truly back to their best after a difficult season last term
LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1)
Giorgi Mamardashvili - 6
Could do little about the goals and did well to save Haaland’s penalty. It sees the big Georgian leave with some credit – though Alisson will be welcomed back when he is fit in a fortnight.
Conor Bradley - 5 (Booked)
The Northern Irishman had the night of his career against Real Madrid and Vinicius Junior on Tuesday but this was one of his toughest afternoons. Will go to sleep thinking of Doku.
Ibrahima Konate - 4
When he is good, he is great. When he is bad, he is terrible. The Frenchman struggled up against City’s front three.
Virgil van Dijk - 5
Unlucky to see his goal chalked off. But seemed to be riled from that point on as Haaland and Co took advantage.
It was a more than concerning performance from Arne Slot's Premier League champions
Captain Virgil van Dijk was unlucky to see his goal chalked off but struggled to recover
Andy Robertson - 5
The guilty party for Liverpool’s equaliser that never was, which was not really his fault. Robertson had a big hug with Guardiola at the end and knows he was well beaten.
Ryan Gravenberch - 5.5
Some nice touches in midfield but, overall, Liverpool were overran in the middle of the park with Foden, Cherki and Doku popping up in unorthodox areas.
Alexis Mac Allister - 5 (Booked)
Another who failed to replicate his performance against Real Madrid. Booked for a tug on Doku in the first half.
Mohamed Salah - 5.5
Bullied by young O’Reilly. The Egyptian was unlucky not to score a goal but was not dangerous enough.
Dominik Szoboszlai - 6.5 (Booked)
Probably the best Liverpool player on the pitch but was let down by his team-mates.
Florian Wirtz was the subject of 'what a waste of money' chants from the home fans
Mo Salah meanwhile saw his difficult start to the season continue as he was kept quiet by Nico O'Reilly
Florian Wirtz - 5
Taunts of ‘what a waste of money’ from the City fans summed up the £116million man’s afternoon. Brilliant against Real Madrid on Tuesday, largely anonymous here.
Hugo Ekitike - 4.5
His opposite number Erling Haaland did not do a great deal either but managed to score. Nothing Ekitike tried came off. Too quiet.
Substitutes
Milos Kerkez (for Robertson, 56) - 6
Cody Gakpo (for Ekitike, 56) - 6
Curtis Jones (for Mac Allister, 74) - 5 (Booked)
Joe Gomez (for Chiesa, 83)
Federico Chiesa (for Wirtz, 83)
Manager
Arne Slot - 5
It felt like from minute one, Slot’s great idol Guardiola had the beating of him. Has a lot of problems.
