Liverpool prolonged their benefit on the high of the Premier League to 9 factors with a deserved 2-0 victory over Manchester Metropolis at Anfield on Sunday.
The Reds took an early lead by way of Cody Gakpo and seemed set to blow the reigning champions away just for poor ending to thwart them.
However any worries a few Metropolis comeback have been ended when Mohamed Salah smashed residence a penalty late within the second half to make sure the hosts moved 11 factors away from the champions.
How the sport unfolded
If Metropolis’s intention was to keep away from giving Liverpool and the Anfield crowd any encouragement early doorways, then they failed badly in that. Twice within the opening levels the guests have been responsible of surrendering the ball in deep positions, with Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai each forcing saves consequently.
Virgil van Dijk then struck the put up with a robust header, earlier than the seemingly inevitable breakthrough got here within the twelfth minute.
It was Gakpo who offered it, however the Dutchman solely needed to run into the ball on the again put up such was the standard of Mohamed Salah‘s inswinging cross from the fitting.
That aim additional ignited the ambiance, and Liverpool virtually responded as Van Dijk headed vast earlier than Gakpo scuffed one over after a lightning break.
However the Reds couldn’t discover a second, and Metropolis supplied a short reminder of their potential risk with 5 minutes of the half remaining, Rico Lewis scuffing their first shot of the opening interval vast.
In a single sense, Metropolis constructed on that within the second interval, starting to dominate possession and eventually achieve a foothold within the sport. Nonetheless, Liverpool continued to create the higher possibilities, with Gakpo forcing a save from Stefan Ortega on the break, Van Dijk heading one other nook over, and Salah lacking uncharacteristically after nicking the ball from Manuel Akanji.
With every miss from the hosts, it started to really feel increasingly more like there may very well be a twist within the story that will see Metropolis pinch a barely deserved share of the spoils.
However any hopes the guests had of doing so have been extinguished when one more turnover in defence allowed Luis Diaz to race by way of and power Ortega to carry him down in desperation.
After a midweek penalty miss towards Actual Madrid, Salah did the remaining in smashing the ball into the underside nook. And that meant that Metropolis have been consigned to falling 11 factors behind the leaders, who themselves are actually 9 away from second-placed Arsenal.
Take a look at the participant rankings for Liverpool vs Manchester Metropolis right here.
In every other season, you would not wager towards Pep Guardiola’s males someway overturning an 11-point deficit with so many video games to be performed between now and Could. However the truth is, Metropolis confirmed right here that they’re too flawed to have any likelihood of protecting tempo with this Liverpool staff.
If Arne Slot’s facet are to be challenged, it would absolutely be by an Arsenal facet who have gotten some tough fixtures and poor luck out of the way in which early doorways.
Metropolis, in the meantime, might must refocus on ensuring they do not fall out of the highest 4.
Key to all Guardiola‘s issues this time period is a midfield that has gone from being some of the feared in Europe to the weakest a part of his staff. Right here, Liverpool merely ran over Metropolis’s engine room, making them look weak, gradual, and previous.
The house assist will little doubt recognise these points from the sudden decline of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson that led to a whole rebuild in that space in the summertime of 2023. The guests want the same structural overhaul if they’re to be restored to their previous glories.
One among Slot’s largest early successes is that he has fairly clearly improved each Liverpool in his first months in cost. However has there been any larger beneficiary than Cody Gakpo, who adopted up a aim towards Actual Madrid in midweek by additionally netting right here.
The Dutchman appears to have been freed by being utilized in his extra acquainted left-wing place on a constant foundation, and is now so filled with confidence that he spent a lot of this match toying with Kyle Walker.
If he can sustain this kind, then Slot has a critical however welcome headache by way of choice the left-hand facet of assault.
If there was one fear for Liverpool followers coming into this sport, it was that their defensive power may need been sapped by the lack of Ibrahima Konate to damage in midweek. However Joe Gomez ensured the Frenchman wasn’t missed in any respect as he produced a masterclass alongside Virgil van Dijk on the coronary heart of the defence.
His studying of the sport ensured he didn’t must get dragged into too many battles with Erling Haaland, and his use of possession was an actual fillip for the Reds. If he can sustain this kind, then Liverpool look set to manage simply tremendous in Konate’s absence.
