Just in case there was any doubt that the Premier League’s balance of power had shifted – away from Manchester City, towards the only club to break City’s modern reign – Liverpool proved it with authority at Anfield on Sunday.
They beat City 2-0 and the easiest proof of the move is now the EPL table. The Reds lead by a whopping nine points, City 11 points back in fifth place.
But the best evidence was all over Anfield. Liverpool crushed the four-time defending champions for most of the 90 minutes. They snuffed out City’s once-prolific attack in the first half by swarming him with balls, biting into tackles and fending off any attempt to gain possession before City even got into midfield.
The hosts scored within 12 minutes through Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and finally Cody Gakpo.
And they really should have scored more goals. Virgil van Dijk pinged the post with one header; narrowly missed with two others.
Gakpo and Salah missed great chances. As a collective, the Reds created 2.3 expected goals (xG) – a measure of the quality and quantity of chance – to City’s 0.2 per 60 minutes.
City held steady during the second half. But in the 78th minute, Salah’s penalty sealed the deal. And for more than 90 minutes, the one-way flow of traffic was stunning and the finish clear.
Because this wasn’t just one game. It was the continuation and convergence of two distinct trends: while City slipped and fell apart, Liverpool climbed to the top of the league. Both trends seem sustainable; neither showed signs of retreat; and so until further notice, this is how the balance of power in the Premier League looks.
The Reds, under new manager Arne Sloto, have combined the most devastating aspects of Jurgen Klopp’s heavy-handed football with technical quality, opportunistic counter-attacks and impressive control. They have now won seven in a row in all competitions. They established themselves as a Favorite title 2024-25 and the most complete team in the league.
City, on the other hand, have now lost four in a row in the league. They have gone seven games without a win in all competitions, the longest winless run of Pep Guardiola’s managerial career. They look flawed and old, like a fallen power clinging to battle plans that battered soldiers can no longer carry out.
Without Rodri, the Ballon d’Or winner who tore his ACL in September, they were vulnerable.
They sputtered in the final third, with Erling Haaland’s supporting cast looking rather ordinary.
They have not been able to replace Rodri or adapt without him. They did not have time to acclimatize to the new reality. They failed to recalibrate a team that once bossed games and hummed up and down the field like a well-oiled machine.
When it all crystallized under the lights at Anfield on Sunday, jubilant Liverpool fans chanted to Guardiola: “You’ll be sacked in the morning!
Guardiola smiled and held up six fingers in response – presumably one for each of the Premier League titles he has won.
However, Liverpool fans went into the night on Merseyside knowing that the number 7 is unlikely to join Guardiola and Manchester City’s cabinet anytime soon.