Haaland and Doku Shine as Manchester City Crush Liverpool 3-0 in Guardiola’s 1,000th Game
Pep Guardiola’s 1,000th game as a manager turned into a memorable celebration as Manchester City stormed past Liverpool 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium. The defending champions showed class and control throughout, delivering a performance that reflected their hunger to chase down league leaders Arsenal.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring with his 99th Premier League goal, redeeming himself after missing an earlier penalty. The Norwegian striker’s powerful header in the 29th minute gave City the lead they thoroughly deserved. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk briefly thought he had equalized, but his goal was controversially disallowed for offside.
City’s intensity never dropped as they dominated possession, pressed relentlessly, and punished every Liverpool mistake. Guardiola’s men played with fluid movement and tactical precision, leaving the visitors struggling to keep up on a wet and frustrating afternoon.
Doku Torments Liverpool Defense in Career-Defining Game
Jeremy Doku was the standout performer of the match, celebrating his 100th appearance for Manchester City with a breathtaking display of speed, skill, and composure. The Belgian winger terrorized Liverpool’s young right-back Conor Bradley, who had no answers to his direct dribbling and constant movement.
Doku was involved in nearly every dangerous city attack. He earned City’s early penalty after a quick burst past two defenders. Besides that, though Haaland’s spot kick was saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili. Still, the winger continued to create chances for teammates like Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki, keeping Liverpool pinned in their own half.
His crowning moment came just after the hour mark. Collecting a pass from Nico O’Reilly, Doku curled in a stunning third goal, his first in the league since January, sealing the victory in style. It was a performance that reminded everyone why Guardiola values his explosive unpredictability.
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Liverpool’s Struggles Deepen Under Pressure
For Arne Slot’s Liverpool, this match was another painful setback. Despite promising recent wins against Aston Villa and Real Madrid. Besides that, the Reds have now lost five of their last six Premier League games. Their defensive structure crumbled once again, while their attack lacked sharpness and belief.
Van Dijk’s deflected own goal before halftime summed up Liverpool’s misfortune. The Dutch captain’s header past Mamardashvili, which could have been an equalizer, was ruled out, and soon after, a deflection off him turned Nico Gonzalez’s strike into City’s second goal.
Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah missed late chances, further highlighting the team’s lack of cutting edge. With the defeat, Liverpool remain eight points adrift of Arsenal and far from the confident title contenders they appeared to be just a few weeks ago.
City Close Gap on Arsenal, Title Race Heats Up
This emphatic victory propelled Manchester City back to second place in the Premier League, just four points behind leaders Arsenal. After dropping points earlier in the season, Guardiola’s side looks rejuvenated and ready for another title charge.
City’s balance between attack and defense, combined with the brilliance of Haaland and Doku, proved too much for Liverpool. The team’s depth and tactical versatility continue to set them apart, especially in crucial matches like this.
Meanwhile, Liverpool must regroup quickly if they hope to stay in the title conversation. Arne Slot faces increasing pressure to stabilize results and restore confidence before the busy winter schedule. For now, though, Guardiola’s milestone evening belongs to City, a masterclass that reinforced their championship pedigree. Also take advantage of your free time to explore more of the latest Premier League news by simply clicking on footballtipsonline.co.uk.
