Manchester City crushed Liverpool 3-0 in Pep Guardiola's 1,000th game in management, cutting Arsenal's advantage at the Premier League summit to four points.
2025/2026 Premier League
3-0
Match Report
Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Sunderland on Saturday opened the door for the teams that have split the last eight titles between them, and City's best performance of the campaign resulted in a statement victory.
Erling Haaland had an early penalty saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili, who had conceded the spot-kick by catching livewire winger Jeremy Doku with his left knee.
But Haaland did find the net in the 29th minute, heading Matheus Nunes' right-wing cross home to cap a flowing move from the hosts.
Liverpool thought they were level when Virgil van Dijk nodded in from Mohamed Salah's corner, but the flag was raised against Andy Robertson – who was deemed to be in front of Gianluigi Donnarumma – and that decision was confirmed by VAR.
And Van Dijk was involved at the other end three minutes into first-half stoppage time, as Nico Gonzalez's strike deflected in off the Liverpool captain.
Liverpool briefly threatened a fightback early in the second half, with substitute Cody Gakpo somehow turning Conor Bradley's centre over a gaping goal.
But their hopes of a comeback were extinguished by the outstanding Doku in the 63rd minute, as the Belgian skipped inside Ibrahima Konate before arrowing a shot into the top-right corner.
Dominik Szoboszlai tested Donnarumma from distance and Salah missed a good one-on-one chance, while Nico O'Reilly also went close on two occasions, as City eased over the line.
While City return to second in the table ahead of the international break, Liverpool are down in eighth, having already suffered five Premier League defeats this season.
Data Debrief: Pep celebrates landmark game, Haaland closes on century
Guardiola's 1,000th match in management was one to remember, with City dominating to hand the former Barcelona B, Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss his 716th victory in the dugout (388 with City).
There was no landmark moment for Haaland, who scored his 99th Premier League goal but came up short of his century on this occasion.
He has, however, scored in all three of his home matches against Liverpool with City, while his 14 goals in 11 matches this season are the second-most any player has ever scored at this stage of a Premier League campaign.
Haaland himself, with 17 goals in his first 11 games of 2022-23, holds that record.
Doku, though, was the star of the show, getting all three of his shots on target, while leading the way for touches in the opposition box (11) and completing seven of his 10 dribble attempts.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
0' Arne Slot and Pep Guardiola with roses, for remembrance day
5' Great defending from Liverpool to stop Doku
7' Foden can't catch the golden chance
8' Mohamed Salah shots saved
16' Bernado has a foul on Van Djik
18' Rayan Cherki shot blocked behind by Ibrahima Konate for a corner
22' Nico O'Reilly is receiving treatment on an injury. Rayan Ait-Nouri warming up
26' Mamardashvili pushes behind a near-post effort from the lively Jeremy Doku
27' Yellow Card! Nico González booked
29' GOAL! Haaland heads home to make up for the missed pen! Man City 1-0 Liverpool
32' Mamardashvili catches the Doku's crossing
36' Yellow Card! Mac Allister booked
39' Robertson adjudged to be in an offside position,no goal
39' Highlight from Man City vs Liverpool
41' Yellow Card! Bernardo Silva booked
47' Rayan Cherki's crossing stopped by Van Dijk
47' Great chance from O'Reily
48' Gonzalez with the aid of a deflection off van Dijk! Man City 2-0 Liverpool
49' Dias rescues Donnarumma after Man City raced out of his goal to confront Salah
50' Highlight from Man City vs Liverpool
52' Yellow Card! Conor Bradley booked
53' Sub: Savinho replaces Rayan Cherki
55' This fella at right-back for Liverpool needs saving. This is brutal from Doku
55' Kerkez and Gakpo come on for Liverpool, replacing Robertson and Hugo Ekitike
58' Massive chance wasted, Cody Gakpo firing over at the back post
59' Gonzalez goes desperately close to scoring an own goal from a good Bradley cross
63' GOAL! Doku cuts inside and whips an absolute stunner! Man City 3-0 Liverpool
65' Wirtz can't find the way to solve problem
70' Doku is unstopped
74' Sub: Omar Marmoush replaces Jeremy Doku
76' Brilliant save from Gianluigi Donnarumma to deny Dominik Szoboszlai
79' Mohamed Salah steers a golden chance wide
Line-ups
Man City XI: Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Donnarumma, Haaland, Foden, Matheus Nunes, Nico González, Cherki, Doku, Gvardiol, Nico O'Reilly
Subs: Ake, Stones, Omar Marmoush, Reijnders, Rayan Aït-Nouri, James Trafford, Bobb, Lewis, Savinho
Liverpool XI: Salah, Van Dijk, Robertson, Konate, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Gravenberch, Hugo Ekitiké, Conor Bradley, Wirtz
Subs: Endo, Freddie Woodman, Joe Gomez, Isak, Gakpo, Chiesa, Curtis Jones, Milos Kerkez, Rio Ngumoha