Manchester City overcame Erling Haaland’s absence to thrash rivals Liverpool 4-1, maintaining pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal.
In the start of the second half, City took a commanding lead thanks to goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan. Jack Grealish then sealed the victory in Saturday’s thrilling match at the Etihad Stadium.
Mohamed Salah gave Liverpool an early lead; they are accustomed to being City’s main rivals for the championship. Nevertheless, Julian Alvarez, who replaced Haaland, promptly equalized, and the visitors were fatigued after the half.
FULL-TIME | It's good to be back! 🙌
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 1, 2023
🔵 4-1 🔴 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/L742pgPegf
With champions City now 22 points ahead of the team who pushed them to the wire last season, the final score highlighted the distance that has grown between the clubs this season.
The prolific Haaland, who has scored 42 goals for City this season in all competitions, had received a lot of attention in the run-up to the game regarding his physical condition.
The Norwegian struggled to heal from a groin issue in time, but he undoubtedly watched from a private box with joy as his teammates succeeded in his absence.
Early on, the hosts made their intentions clear. Gundogan got into a fantastic position but mishandled a volley, Rodri shot at Alisson Becker, and Riyad Mahrez curled a free-kick just wide.
Yet Liverpool showed fight at first and, although Darwin Nunez was only deemed fit enough for a substitute role, were a danger on the break.
Salah served warning when he had a shot blocked and then made no mistake after another quick counter-attack in the 17th minute.
Trent Alexander-Arnold launched a ball to Diogo Jota from deep and the Portuguese held it up in the area for Salah to race onto and thump a shot into the top corner.
It could have quickly got worse for City but they survived another scare and then levelled after a brilliant, and game-changing, couple of minutes from Grealish.
irstly he was the only City player to get back as Salah broke clear again and he made a timely interception as the Egyptian looked to play in Jota.
Moments later Grealish was involved at the other end, this time laying off a neat first-time cross for World Cup-winner Alvarez to turn home at close range.
Tensions threatened to boil over in the closing stages of the first half after Rodri was booked for pulling back Jota but not for repeating the offence on Cody Gakpo. Manuel Akanji and Jordan Henderson also got involved in a running battle.
The interval brought a refocusing on the football and City were quickly into their stride as Mahrez found space on the right and centred for the inrushing De Bruyne to turn in.
Gakpo was brilliantly denied by Ederson at the other end but City were relentless and took a firm grip on the game by grabbing their third after 53 minutes.
Alexander-Arnold stretched to block Alvarez’s initial shot but the ball rolled to Gundogan and the German could hardly miss from close range.
The double blow took the wind out of Liverpool’s challenge and a dominant City eventually grabbed a fourth when Grealish combined with De Bruyne to slide home and cap a fine individual display.
It was a thoroughly professional performance by City from a potentially difficult fixture but they will hope the wounded Reds can rally against Arsenal next week.