EPL: Liverpool Extend Lead at Top with Dominant 2-0 Win Over Manchester City

Manchester City's slump continued as they lost 2-0 to Liverpool, who moved 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

Liverpool strengthened their grip on the top spot in the Premier League table with a convincing 2-0 victory over Manchester City at Anfield, extending their lead to a staggering 11 points.

The win marked a significant milestone for Manchester City, who are now without a win in seven consecutive matches across all competitions. This dismal run represents the worst such streak in Pep Guardiola's illustrious managerial career. In an attempt to reverse their fortunes, Guardiola made a notable change, dropping Ederson to the bench in favour of Stefan Ortega in goal.

Stefan Ortega, Manchester City's goalkeeper, was put to the test early on as Liverpool unleashed a flurry of attacks. The German shot-stopper made crucial saves to deny Dominik Szoboszlai's efforts, but the Hungarian midfielder's influence persisted as he set up Virgil van Dijk, whose header rattled the post.

The opening goal seemed almost inevitable, and it was Mohamed Salah's brilliance that ultimately broke the deadlock. The Egyptian winger delivered a precise cross into the City box, finding Cody Gakpo at the back post. Gakpo's bundled finish in front of the Kop sent the Anfield crowd into raptures.

Despite trailing, Manchester City persisted with their high-risk strategy of playing out from the back, which continued to put them in precarious situations. Virgil van Dijk headed another clear opportunity wide, while Cody Gakpo fired over the bar, as Liverpool's attacking pressure showed no signs of relenting.

City eventually managed to stem the tide of Liverpool's attacks, but their own efforts to find an equalizer were fruitless. It wasn't until the 39th minute that the visitors mustered their first shot, courtesy of Rico Lewis, who tamely missed the target. This lackluster effort epitomized City's miserable first half, marking the longest wait for their first shot in a Premier League match since April 2010.

Although City appeared more threatening after the restart, Liverpool continued to create the bulk of the scoring opportunities.

Liverpool's dominance continued as Cody Gakpo's shot was blocked by the retreating Matheus Nunes, while Virgil van Dijk headed another opportunity over the bar. The hosts' relentless pressure was almost rewarded when Mohamed Salah seized upon a loose pass from Bernardo Silva to bear down on goal, but the Egyptian's effort sailed over the bar.

The only thing missing from Liverpool's impressive performance was a second goal to seal the victory. That moment finally arrived 12 minutes from time, as the hosts' persistence paid off, allowing them to put the game beyond Manchester City's reach.

Ruben Dias' momentary lapse in possession proved costly as Luis Diaz seized the opportunity to sprint towards goal. However, Diaz was brought down by Stefan Ortega, prompting the referee to award a penalty. Mohamed Salah stepped up to take the spot-kick, making amends for his midweek miss against Real Madrid and scoring his 13th goal in 11 starts against Manchester City.

The victory marked another notable milestone for Liverpool, who have now defeated the champions of England, Spain, and Germany at Anfield this season. The Reds' commanding nine-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table is a testament to their impressive form. In contrast, Manchester City's woes continued as they dropped out of the top four, having lost four consecutive league games for the first time since August 2008.