City humiliate Liverpool at Anfield

LIVERPOOL, England (AP):

Manchester City dismantled Liverpool, aided by Alisson Becker’s uncharacteristic goalkeeping blunders, to win 4-1 and inflict the English Premier League (EPL) champions’ third successive loss at the former fortress of Anfield yesterday.

A first victory for City at Liverpool since 2003 — sparked by İlkay Gündoğan’s double — nudges Pep Guardiola’s side closer to regaining the trophy.

FIVE POINTS CLEAR

While City pushed five points clear of Manchester United at the top of the standings, Liverpool slipped 10 points behind the leaders in a faltering title defence.

“It gives us every chance to go on and win it now,” said Phil Foden, who scored City’s fourth after Raheem Sterling’s header. “But the job is not done.”

Not since 1963 have Liverpool lost a hat-trick of home league games. And this is a stadium where they had been unbeaten in 68 games until Burnley won last month and Brighton followed up with another victory on Wednesday.

No wonder Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp said Alisson felt disappointed.

“There is not a real explanation,” Klopp said. “Maybe he had cold feet? It sounds funny, but it could be. Maybe he could have kicked it in the stand. But Ali saved our life so many times.”

It was failing to keep hold of a shot that allowed Gündoğan, who sent a first-half penalty into the Kop, to beat Alisson four minutes after the break.

Mohamed Salah levelled from a penalty in the 63rd minute, but Gündoğan restored City’s lead 10 minutes later. Another pair of errors by Alisson led to Sterling heading in the third before Foden powered in an angled drive.

It was a stylish way to seal a 14th successive win in all competitions for City, who won the title in 2018 and 2019 under Guardiola.

The trophy was surrendered meekly last season to City. At this stage last season, Liverpool had already established a 16-point lead over Guardiola’s second-place side.

Now Liverpool is even clinging on to fourth place to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

Tottenham 2-0 West Brom

Wolverhampton 0-0 Leicester

Liverpool 1-4 Man City

Sheff Utd 1-2 Chelsea

Leeds v Crystal Palace 3 p.m.