EPL Matchday 32: De Bruyne's masterclass chastens PL Champions at the Etihad; Man City 4 - 0 Liverpool

Second-placed Man City are 20 points behind champions Liverpool, who have 86 points. 

EPL Matchday 32: De Bruyne's masterclass chastens PL Champions at the Etihad; Man City 4 - 0 Liverpool
Manchester City celebrate

Manchester City did not just surrender the title to Liverpool in an unpretentious manner, they chastened the side that have made winning easier all season at the Etihad.

 

 

The Reds tasted their second defeat of the season by a 4-0 knock out. Klopp's side received the Guard of Honor from the outgoing Champions but Guardiola's were fueled with revenge following Liverpool’s 3-1 win against them at Anfield last year.

 

 

The Champions started the game well and had the chance to lead but the post disallowed Salah’s effort in the 20-minute.

The Egyptian caught inside off the right and the lack of City players defending their box was quite frightening. Salah got his head up and rolled a fierce low effort that beat Ederson but rocketed back off the post. Mane reacted first to the loose ball but his control let him down.

City were awarded a penalty in the 23-minute when Joe Gomez fouled Raheem Sterling in the 18-yard box. Kevin De Bruyne slotted the ball to the left to beat Alisson in post.

 

 

The Reds found it difficult to connect their passes as City dominated the midfield and cut out Liverpool’s laterals, Trent Arnold and Robertson from operating.

 

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Sterling doubled the lead in the 35-minute following De Bruyne's excellent pass to find Jesus who took advantage of Robertson being out of position to find Foden. He connected Sterling inside the area and his first touch confused Gomez as his second reversed an effort into the bottom corner.

 

 

Foden added a third in the 45-minute after playing a quick one-two with Jesus inside the Liverpool’s eighteen-yard box. Foden collected the return, danced in on and Alisson and clipped one into the net.

Chamberlain’s introduction was not too influencing in the game as the midfielder added his name to the score sheet in favor of City in the 66-minute.

 

 

Alexander-Arnold lost out to Mahrez and Rodri played a looped pass to De Bruyne who had Sterling ahead of him racing into space. De Bruyne found the right pass as Sterling checked inside Robertson in the box and fired a low effort that was heading just wide before a desperate Oxlade-Chamberlain slid in to put it into his own net.

 

 

The loss was the joint-heaviest defeat by a side already crowned Premier League champions in a season, with Arsenal losing 4-0 away at Liverpool in 1997-98, which was also the game after they won the title.

 

 

Second-placed Man City are 20 points behind champions Liverpool, who have 86 points.