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Liverpool v Manchester City LIVE: Result and reaction after leaders pile more misery on Pep Guardiola’s side

Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City: The hosts dominated at Anfield to open up a nine-point lead at the top of the table

Chris Wilson,Miguel Delaney,Richard Jolly
Sunday 01 December 2024 18:52 GMT
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Arne Slot says Liverpool won't get 'carried away' after pulling clear at the top

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Liverpool confirmed their place as top contenders for the Premier League title as they piled yet more misery on Manchester City with a 2-0 victory at Anfield.

Arne Slot’s extended their advantage at the top of the table to nine points and now lead their long-time title rivals by 11 points. Cody Gakpo turned home the opener early on after a rampant start from the hosts as Mohamed Salah laid a goal on a plate for his front-three colleague, with Liverpool unfortunate not to add to their tally in a dominant first-half performance.

Things continued in much the same vein after the interval, with Salah adding a second from the spot with a cool and crisp penalty. It extended Manchester City’s run of games without a win to seven in all competitions, leaving any prospect of a title challenge surely slim.

Re-live all of the action from Anfield in our live blog below:

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

27 mins

Van Dijk does well in his first tussle with Haaland, winning the ball off him as the Norwegian dribbled towards the edge of the box. City have settled somewhat in the last few minutes, but they’re coming under plenty of pressure with the home side’s high press.

City get forward but Foden can’t find the pass in the opposition box.

Chris Wilson1 December 2024 16:27

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

25 mins

City do get forward, led by Nunes down the left, but he has it taken off his foot by Alexander-Arnold. When chasing back, Nunes slides in from behind and gets an early booking.

Chris Wilson1 December 2024 16:25

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

24 mins

Nunes is chasing down Alexander-Arnold in the Liverpool box but the full-back manages to get it clear.

The home side have had 45 touches in the final third, compared to City’s five.

(Getty Images)
Chris Wilson1 December 2024 16:24

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

21 mins

It’s still all Liverpool at the moment, with Robertson the latest to fly forward and win a corner.

No shots yet for the away side – they’ve not even come close to one.

Chris Wilson1 December 2024 16:22

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

19 mins

Another chance for the hosts as Salah, Diaz and Alexander-Arnold combine in the box to set the latter free. He squares a short pass to Gakpo in the box, but he hooks an effort well over.

Chris Wilson1 December 2024 16:20

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

17 mins

Alexander-Arnold has the ball in his own box and he picks out a superb 70-yard pass right into the path of Gakpo, but Ake does well to lunge and clear for a corner.

From the set-piece, van Dijk climbs highest again, but he can only power a header wide of the near post.

Chris Wilson1 December 2024 16:19

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

After a breathtaking 10 minutes, our senior football correspondent Richard Jolly has the latest from Anfield:

For 10 minutes, Manchester City were battered by Liverpool yet did not come close to conceding. Then Virgil van Dijk hit the post. Then Cody Gakpo scored and the ferocious pace at which Liverpool started took its toll. But some of these City players lack pace and Liverpool seem determined to make their physical advantage tell. City's lack of a proper defensive midfielder is apparent in the freedom Dominik Szoboszlai is enjoying while the plan of using Nathan Ake against Salah backfired when Manuel Akanji was the nearest man to him - but not near enough - when he crossed for Gakpo. Quite a week for Gakpo, too, with goals against Real Madrid and City within a few days.

(Getty Images)
Jack Rathborn1 December 2024 16:16

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

14 mins

What a start from Liverpool, and their early pressure pays off. Even this early on, it’s hard to see City recovering, such has been the flow of the game.

Chris Wilson1 December 2024 16:15

GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

12 mins

Moments after van Dijk rattles the post with a header, the home side are ahead!

Liverpool recycle possession from that chance and they come again, with Salah latching onto a long diagonal pass. He drives into the area, looks up and plays a lovely cross into the area between the defenders and Ortega – it falls to Gakpo at the back post, and he taps in for 1-0!

(Getty Images)
Chris Wilson1 December 2024 16:14

Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City

10 mins

It’s the hosts doing all the attacking in the opening stages, with Szoboszlai the latest to test Ortega with an effort from distance, before Alexander-Arnold wins a corner.

Chris Wilson1 December 2024 16:11

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