Arne Slot's team now sits in eighth place after suffering their fifth loss this season. Having conceded 17 goals so far in 2025/26, the joint second highest among the top 15 Premier League teams, it clearly shows where Liverpool's difficulties lie.

Liverpool second best in all areas

Although the Reds may argue that they remain only four points behindCity , the reality is they were outplayed in nearly every facet of the game, which should concern the defending champions who have already lost five matches this season.

Only the bottom six clubs in the Premier League have more defeats.

Guardiola selected an unchanged starting lineup for the 'Super Sunday' clash, with City unbeaten in their last 16 Premier League games when naming the same XI (W12 D4) since a 2-1 loss to Liverpool in March 2015.

The first significant moment came when Chris Kavanagh awarded his third penalty of the season – no official has given more in 25/26 – following VAR review of Giorgi Mamardashvili's foul on Jérémy Doku.

Erling Haaland unexpectedly missed from the spot – City's fourth penalty miss in their last five attempts against Liverpool – but the Norwegian ensured he scored before halftime with a trademark towering header.

99 Premier League goals for Haaland

That strike brought his total to 99 Premier League goals since joining City, and he has 16 matches left to surpass Alan Shearer's record as the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals. Shearer needed 124 games, while Haaland has played only 107 so far.

Although Liverpool couldn't break through, and rightly felt aggrieved when Virgil van Dijk's headed equalizer was disallowed for offside, it was clear there was only one dominant team.

Liverpool held slightly more possession (51.5% to 48.5%), but were ineffective going forward, managing just one shot on target all match (none in the first half).

The contest was effectively decided in first-half stoppage time when Nico Gonzalez scored after a deflection off van Dijk, a moment that perfectly illustrated Liverpool's season.

Slot frustrated by Salah and others

Van Dijk made no real attempt to block the shot, merely extending a half-hearted boot that deflected the ball past Mamardashvili.

Multiple substitutions before the hour mark failed to change the game's flow, with Slot visibly frustrated on the sidelines.

And understandably so. Except for Mamardashvili, all of Liverpool's starters and most substitutes had pass completion rates above 80%, yet they could not penetrate the critical areas.

Mo Salah was the most active visitor inside the City penalty area with six touches, but none resulted in a shot on target. Additionally, none of his three dribbles succeeded.

Another quiet display from the Egyptian King also saw him lose possession 17 times – the highest on the pitch – and win only four out of 11 one-on-one duels during the match.

Doku's goal was Liverpool's 17th conceded in PL games

Jeremy Doku's superb curling strike – his first goal in 24 Premier League matches – added some gloss to the final score, though it was well deserved by him and City.

His dynamic man-of-the-match showing featured over 10 dribbles, more than 10 duels won, 3+ chances created, 3+ shots on target, and a goal, marking the first time in a Premier League game since Eden Hazard for Chelsea against West Ham in April 2019.

Suffering a three-goal defeat for the first time since April 2023 – coincidentally also away at Man City – was a first for Arne Slot as Liverpool manager.

Doku's goal was the 17th Liverpool have conceded, and no reigning Premier League champions have allowed that many in their first 11 games since their title-winning season in 2020/21.

Back to basics for the Reds

With 15 minutes remaining, Dominik Szoboszlai finally registered Liverpool's first shot on target, which was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, marking the visitors' first shutout of the season.

They were also caught offside at least seven times in each of their last two league matches (8 vs Aston Villa, 7 vs City), matching the total number of offsides they had in their previous 417 games combined.

Another international break has arguably arrived at the worst time for Slot, who urgently needs to correct his team's recurring mistakes.

Dominating possession, total passes, and accuracy is positive, but when it doesn't translate into wins, it's time to get serious and focus on fundamentals.