Manchester City close in on Arsenal after a devastating 3-0 victory over Liverpool at the Etihad

Manchester City roared back into the Premier League title race with a ferocious 3-0 demolition of Liverpool, as Erling Haaland and Jérémy Doku produced performances that tore apart Jürgen Klopp’s fading challengers.

On a night when both sides had the chance to capitalise on Arsenal’s draw at Sunderland, it was Pep Guardiola’s team who seized the moment with authority. The result moves City to within four points of the leaders and sends a powerful message that they have no intention of surrendering their crown.

Liverpool, by contrast, barely landed a punch. Their defence was carved open repeatedly, their midfield overrun, and their attack blunted into submission. This was not just a defeat, it was a humbling.

Haaland could have opened the scoring after just 13 minutes when City were awarded a controversial penalty following a light tangle between Doku and Ibrahima Konaté. The Norwegian’s effort was saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili, sparking furious protests from Liverpool players who felt the decision should never have been given.

The reprieve was brief. Haaland struck soon after with his 19th goal of the season, looping a header beyond Alisson after a cross from Matheus Nunes took a deflection off Konaté. It was an instinctive finish from a player who rarely needs a second chance.

Liverpool’s resistance disintegrated in first-half stoppage time when Nico González’s drive took a wicked deflection off Virgil van Dijk to wrong-foot the goalkeeper and double City’s lead. From that point, there was no way back.

Doku then delivered the coup de grâce midway through the second half. The Belgian winger, who had tormented Liverpool all evening, cut inside from the left and curled a sublime strike into the far corner. It was the goal his electric performance deserved and brought the Etihad crowd to its feet.

Liverpool did have the ball in the net when Van Dijk rose to head home from a corner, but the goal was ruled out by VAR after Andy Robertson was adjudged to be offside and interfering with play. It was technically correct but harsh and emblematic of Liverpool’s luckless evening.

City, meanwhile, was relentless. Bernardo Silva orchestrated play with poise and intelligence, switching positions seamlessly with González to overload Liverpool’s midfield. Behind them, young full-back Nico O’Reilly handled Mohamed Salah with maturity beyond his years.

Guardiola, celebrating his 1,000th game as a manager, was treated to a pre-match tribute video at the Etihad. His players responded with a performance that encapsulated his philosophy, total control, relentless pressing, and attacking precision.

Liverpool, in contrast, looked bereft of ideas. Their fourth consecutive away defeat in the league was their worst run since 2012 and left their title ambitions in tatters. The excitement of their midweek Champions League win over Real Madrid felt like a distant memory.

“It’s not about the referee,” Klopp said afterwards. “The city was simply better. We lost too many individual battles. They were faster, stronger, smarter.”

Haaland and Doku were at the heart of everything good about City. The Norwegian striker bullied the Liverpool defence throughout, while Doku’s pace and skill repeatedly left Konaté and Trent Alexander-Arnold floundering. When Doku was substituted late on, he received a standing ovation, a fitting recognition of a performance brimming with flair and aggression.

The victory reignites City’s chase for a record-breaking fifth consecutive Premier League title. For Liverpool, now eight points behind Arsenal and showing signs of fatigue, the dream may already be slipping away.

As Guardiola punched the air in celebration at full-time, one thing was unmistakably clear: Manchester City are far from finished, and if Haaland and Doku continue in this form, the Premier League may yet be theirs again.