Pep Guardiola marked his 1,000th game as a manager in unforgettable fashion as Manchester City swept aside Liverpool with a ruthless 3-0 win at the Etihad Stadium.
What was billed as a clash of Premier League heavyweights quickly turned into a masterclass from the champions. City’s slick passing, relentless pressing, and sheer dominance cut Liverpool apart, closing the gap on leaders Arsenal to just four points.
Erling Haaland once again proved unstoppable. After missing an early penalty following Giorgi Mamardashvili’s foul on Jeremy Doku, the Norwegian hitman responded in trademark fashion. Twenty-nine minutes in, he soared above Virgil van Dijk to meet Matheus Nunes’ cross with a thumping header into the top corner. It was his 28th goal of a stunning season and his first against Liverpool in a match featuring Van Dijk from the start.
Liverpool thought they had found a lifeline before the break when Van Dijk powered home Mohamed Salah’s corner, but joy turned to frustration as the flag went up. Andy Robertson had strayed offside, ducking in front of Gianluigi Donnarumma and blocking the keeper’s line of sight.
City punished the visitors moments later. In first-half stoppage time, Nico Gonzalez let fly from the edge of the box and saw his shot clip Van Dijk, wrong-footing Mamardashvili and nestling into the net. The Etihad roared as Guardiola punched the air in delight.
Liverpool looked shell-shocked and never recovered. Their defence was torn apart time and again by the electric Doku, who gave young Conor Bradley a nightmare afternoon. The Belgian winger capped a dazzling display just after the hour, cutting inside and curling a glorious right-foot strike from 20 yards into the far corner.
Guardiola’s side played with swagger and precision, their passing crisp and their movement irresistible. Every attack seemed to carry menace. Liverpool, meanwhile, were second best in every department, their brief revival under Jurgen Klopp abruptly halted.
Haaland’s hunger, Doku’s flair, and City’s ruthless control sent a clear message to Arsenal and the rest of the league. The champions are not giving up their crown easily. Guardiola’s milestone game became another chapter in his extraordinary career, celebrated in fitting style by a team that looks ready to chase down anyone in their path.
For Liverpool, it was a humbling reminder of the gap they must close. For City, it was a statement win and a warning to the Premier League: Pep’s men are back in full flight.