Liverpool took a massive step toward securing the Premier League title with a dominant 2-0 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Goals from Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai ensured a comfortable win, widening the gap at the top of the table to 11 points. With Arsenal and Manchester City stumbling, Liverpool now look unstoppable in their quest for their 20th English top-flight title.
Liverpool Seizes the Moment, City Falters Again
City entered this crucial clash already reeling from a midweek Champions League exit to Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Arne Slot’s Liverpool were buoyed by Arsenal’s shock defeat to West Ham, knowing that a win would all but cement their title charge.
And they delivered. Salah, as he has done all season, proved to be the difference-maker, scoring his 30th goal of the season in all competitions and setting up Szoboszlai for the second. City, missing the presence of Erling Haaland, looked lifeless and struggled to create clear-cut chances despite dominating possession.
Key Match Moments
- 14th Minute – Salah Strikes First: A brilliantly executed set-piece routine saw Alexis Mac Allister’s corner flicked on by Szoboszlai, falling perfectly for Salah. His shot, aided by a slight deflection off Nathan Aké, nestled in the back of the net, sending the traveling Liverpool fans into raptures.
- 32nd Minute – Szoboszlai Doubles the Lead: Liverpool’s counterattacks were a menace all game, and it was Salah again, who played a perfect ball for Szoboszlai, leaving the Hungarian with an easy finish past Ederson.
- Curtis Jones’ VAR Drama: Liverpool thought they had a third, but VAR intervened to rule Szoboszlai offside before setting up Jones. A close call, but it ultimately didn’t impact the result.
- City’s Attack Fizzles Out: Jeremy Doku had the beating of Trent Alexander-Arnold, but his end product let him down. City failed to register a significant threat on goal, despite enjoying over 70% possession.
What This Means for the Title Race
Liverpool’s victory now puts them in firm control of the Premier League. With only 11 games left, they need just nine wins to mathematically secure the title.
Key Stats in the Title Race:
- Liverpool: 68 points
- Arsenal: 57 points (game in hand)
- Man City: 48 points (20 points behind Liverpool)
With fixtures against Newcastle, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Arsenal still to come, there is still a mathematical chance of a title twist. But with their resilience and squad depth, it’s looking increasingly difficult for anyone to catch Arne Slot’s men.
Manchester City: A Team in Decline?
The defeat raises serious questions about Manchester City’s ability to compete at the highest level. Once known as a team that thrived in pressure situations, Pep Guardiola’s men have faltered in crucial fixtures for almost two seasons now:
- Lost to Arsenal and Liverpool in the Premier League last season
- Failed to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League across four encounters
- Defeated by Man United in last season’s FA Cup final
Since winning the treble, City have struggled to rediscover their dominance, and this latest loss only highlights their vulnerabilities.
Arne Slot Achieves What Klopp Couldn’t
Arne Slot has already equaled Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League title haul (potentially). But more impressively, he accomplished something Klopp never did: winning a Premier League match against Pep Guardiola’s City at the Etihad Stadium.
While Klopp built one of the greatest Liverpool teams in history, often competing neck-and-neck with Guardiola’s City, he never managed to defeat them on their own turf in the league. Slot did it at his first attempt, signaling a new era of dominance for the Merseyside club.
City’s Young Squad Learns a Harsh Lesson
Pep Guardiola opted for a youth-heavy squad, leaving experienced players like Rúben Dias, Bernardo Silva, and Mateo Kovačić on the bench. The decision backfired, as Liverpool’s experience proved too much for City’s relatively inexperienced starting XI.
- City’s average starting XI age: 24.7 years
- Three 20-year-olds started (Rico Lewis, Savinho, and Abdukodir Khusanov)
While City’s young players showed flashes of brilliance, their defensive lapses and lack of composure in the final third cost them dearly.
What’s Next?
Liverpool’s Next Fixtures:
- vs Newcastle (H) – March 5
- vs Tottenham (A) – March 12
- vs Chelsea (H) – March 19
Manchester City’s Next Fixtures:
- vs Brighton (A) – March 6
- vs Aston Villa (H) – March 11
- vs Brentford (A) – March 17
With Liverpool soaring and City crumbling, the title race looks all but over. If Liverpool keep their momentum, we might be witnessing the beginning of a new dynasty under Arne Slot.
FAQs
While not mathematically confirmed, Liverpool are in a commanding position, needing only nine more wins to secure the title.
City lacked cutting edge in attack without Erling Haaland, struggled with defensive frailties, and failed to convert their possession into goals.
Salah was instrumental, scoring the opening goal and setting up Szoboszlai, proving once again why he’s Liverpool’s talisman.
Arsenal are still mathematically in the race, but with an 11-point deficit, their chances are slim unless Liverpool experience a major collapse.
It raises serious concerns about their ability to compete in big games. Guardiola may need a major squad rebuild to restore dominance.
Final Thoughts
Liverpool fans were chanting, “We’re going to win the league.” And it’s hard to argue against it. Manchester City were supposed to be their biggest challengers, but Liverpool made them look ordinary.
While City’s golden era under Guardiola may not be over yet, there’s no denying that Liverpool have stamped their authority on English football once again.
