Manchester City clapped new victors LFC onto the turf before their Premier League face off on Thursday, though the show of respect ended as soon the first whistle blew and City moved into high gear.
With the title already in the bag for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, there was little to play for, but the Liverpudlian Reds looked a long way from the reigning champions as they were unceremoniously trounced 4-0 by the Manc Blues. Maybe they were just cruising and maybe City thought they had something to prove, not only to themselves but to the fans who also felt they had been robbed of the title. Either way, the gap in performance was vast.
“I saw a brilliant attitude. I saw fight. We didn’t behave like somebody who became champions a week ago. We lacked fluidity. And in some 50-50 situations they were quicker than us” said Klopp.
“Man City are incredible. I saw their season, they didn’t play a bad game even when they lost” he said.
It only took four minutes before Mohamed Salah was blasting shots at Liverpool’s goal. Salah at that point struck the post after a shrewd ball from Firmino, whose hair was red, yet on the off chance that Liverpool thought they were in for one more night of fun and games, they were in for a severe shock.
Accepting the ball in the case, the splendid Sterling out maneuvered Gomez who’s over enthusiastic arm work was considered a foul and Anthony Taylor gave the penalty. De Bruyne struck true for his 4th net in five games.
First half action was hectic, yet City won though with their almost surgical performance. Previous Liverpool man Sterling multiplied their lead as City countered; Foden burst into the box on Sterling’s left who only needed on touch to out play the defenders before placing the ball in the lower left corner.
The 20-year-old Foden made it 3-0, blasting past Alisson after a quick trade with De Bruyne.
City were demonstrating a determination to play long and Rodri propelled a pass at De Bruyne, the Belgian discovered Sterling who helped the ball goalwards only to find substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s failed defending attempt which ended in an own goal.
The nightmare could have been complete for Liverpool if Riyad Mahrez’s last mad dash in the closing had not been thwarted by VAR who called a handball by Foden.