Manchester City dominate Liverpool 3-0 at the Etihad. Controversial offside call on Virgil Van Dijk and Erling Haaland’s strike leave Reds eight points off the top.
Liverpool endured a chastening afternoon at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday as they suffered a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, a result that exposes the cracks in Arne Slot’s squad and leaves the Premier League champions facing a tough run in the months ahead.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring with a deflected header off Ibrahima Konate before Nico Gonzalez doubled City’s lead with a strike that ricocheted off Virgil van Dijk. Jeremy Doku added a third in the second half to seal a comprehensive victory for Pep Guardiola’s side.
The defeat leaves Liverpool in eighth place, their lowest league position under Slot since his arrival in the summer of 2024, and marks their fifth league defeat in six matches.
Liverpool briefly thought they had pulled a goal back when Van Dijk rose to meet a Mohamed Salah corner delivery. However, the goal was ruled out for offside with VAR confirming that Andy Robertson was in an offside position, “deemed to be making an obvious action directly in front of the goalkeeper,” according to the Premier League Match Centre.
Slot was visibly frustrated, gesturing to the fourth official, while Robertson and Van Dijk argued their case as they left the pitch at half-time. Sky Sports pundits offered differing opinions. Gary Neville backed Liverpool, saying:
“I think he is outside the eyeline of the goalkeeper. I think Slot is right to be fuming. The goalkeeper is not getting anywhere near that. He had a clear line of sight.”
Micah Richards echoed the sentiment, calling the decision “really harsh,” but Roy Keane disagreed:
“Robertson has to come out quicker. He is in line with the ball. The rules are that Robertson has to get out quicker.”
Earlier in the match, Haaland had missed a penalty after being fouled by Doku inside the box, with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili diving the correct way to keep the scores level. Moments later, Gonzalez’s deflected strike made it 2-0, leaving Liverpool chasing the game.
Liverpool’s problems were compounded by a lack of cohesion and intensity. After their Champions League victory over Real Madrid on Tuesday, the contrast could not have been starker.
The Reds were sluggish in possession, hesitant defensively, and unable to impose themselves physically or tactically against a side that dominated the midfield and attacked with pace and precision.
Arne Slot’s substitutions also drew attention. Hugo Ekitike started but was replaced by Cody Gakpo, highlighting Liverpool’s ongoing struggles to find clarity when games are not going their way.
It was a pattern that has emerged at times this season and will demand careful reflection during the November international break.
Statistically, the result was significant: Liverpool’s first Premier League game without scoring since September 2024 and their seventh defeat in ten league matches. With Arsenal leading the table and City closing the gap, Liverpool face the reality of a top-four battle rather than a title challenge.
For Guardiola, the win was a statement. After a frustrating 2024-25 season with no silverware, the victory over Liverpool demonstrated that City remain a formidable force despite summer squad changes.
For Liverpool, the focus now shifts to regrouping. The international break provides a brief pause, but Slot and his squad will need to address tactical deficiencies, squad management, and attitude on the pitch if they are to maintain any realistic hopes of defending their Premier League crown.
