Liverpool inflict more pain on Man City

Liverpool opened up a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League as Manchester City’s crisis deepened in a 2-0 defeat at Anfield yesterday. 

Cody Gakpo’s 12th-minute goal was scant reward for the Reds’ first-half domination and they sealed an 18th win in 20 games under Arne Slot thanks to Mohamed Salah’s penalty. 

City are now 11 points off the runaway leaders down in fifth and win-less in seven games, including six defeats.

Arsenal and Chelsea are Liverpool’s closest challengers as City appear set to lose their crown as English champions after winning an unprecedented four consecutive titles. 

City’s only point since October 26 even felt like a defeat as they blew a 3-0 lead in the final 15 minutes to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League in midweek. 

Pep Guardiola responded by dropping goalkeeper Ederson, while Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias were also restored to the defence. 

But there was no response from the defending champions as they were blown away in the opening stages. 

Stefan Ortega was forced into fine saves from Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai before Virgil van Dijk crashed a header off the post. 

City could barely get out of their half in the opening quarter and the goal duly arrived when Gakpo bundled in Salah’s enticing cross to the back post. 

Van Dijk powered another big headed chance inches wide as the chances continued to come for Liverpool. 

Even during City’s finest seasons under Guardiola, they have struggled to contain the power of the Anfield crowd. 

Earlier, Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim earned his first Premier League win with a 4-0 rout of Everton. 

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to six games as Villa’s dismal win-less streak reached eight matches. 

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca insisted this week that his young team are not title contenders in the first season of his rebuilding job. 

But they look capable of at least securing Champions League qualification after a third successive win in the space of eight days moved them level on points with second-placed Arsenal. 

Nicolas Jackson put Chelsea in front after just seven minutes with his eighth goal this season. 

The Senegal striker met Marc Cucurella’s cross with a volley from eight yards that beat Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez via the near post. 

Villa appealed in vain for a foul by Cucurella on Jaden Philogene in the build-up to the goal. 

Enzo Fernandez added to Villa’s frustration in the 36th minute as the midfielder took a clever touch before firing home from 12 yards. — SuperSport.