Liverpool 2-0 Man City: Liverpool player ratings, standout player, statistics as Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo secure victory over the Champions…

Liverpool player ratings: Three outstanding performances and six others commendable against Man City.

Liverpool have effectively dashed Manchester City’s ambitions of achieving a remarkable fifth consecutive Premier League title with a 2-0 triumph over the struggling holders at Anfield during Sunday’s key fixture.

Cody Gakpo’s close-range finish and a well-taken penalty by Mohamed Salah have deepened Man City’s woes, keeping Arne Slot’s dynamic team firmly in contention for the championship, a result that was well-deserved in front of an enthusiastic Kop.

Liverpool’s relentless pressing forced Man City into frequent errors in midfield, signaling trouble for the champions, who could not argue when Gakpo opened the scoring following brilliant assists from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah.

Rather than becoming complacent after their well-earned lead, Liverpool continued to exploit the disorganized Man City midfield and the vulnerabilities in the visitors’ defense, although they were guilty of squandering several scoring opportunities.

At the other end, City’s attempts to penetrate Liverpool’s defense were largely ineffective; Caoimhin Kelleher was not required to make a single save in the first half, thanks in part to the Reds’ solid defensive organization and the Citizens’ lack of a cutting edge in their final passes.

While Guardiola’s side displayed a bit more attacking intent at the beginning of the second half, the absence of a genuine playmaker reminiscent of a prime Kevin De Bruyne was glaringly obvious, and the match was effectively decided when Salah converted a penalty in the closing minutes.

Shortly thereafter, a rare error from Virgil van Dijk nearly allowed De Bruyne to score, but Kelleher made a crucial save with his legs; De Bruyne’s poor effort epitomized another frustrating day for the beleaguered Sky Blues.

Even as his team’s aspirations to defend their title took a significant hit, a smiling Guardiola found the moment to share a laugh, flashing the number six with his fingers while the jubilant Liverpool fans chanted, “you’re getting sacked in the morning.”

With a commanding lead of six points, Liverpool continues to hold a firm advantage over second-placed Arsenal and third-placed Chelsea in the Premier League standings.

Meanwhile, Manchester City concludes the weekend outside the Champions League spots, as their inconsistent season reaches yet another low point.