Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Pep Guardiola marked a landmark moment in his illustrious managerial career with a commanding 3–0 victory over Liverpool on Sunday, as Manchester City reaffirmed their Premier League title ambitions with a performance of control, intensity, and flair at a rain-soaked Etihad Stadium.
It was a fitting way for Guardiola to celebrate his 1,000th game in management. His side, relentless from the first whistle, dismantled a Liverpool team that never quite recovered from early setbacks and left Manchester nursing fresh doubts about their faltering campaign.
Erling Haaland, as ever, provided the spark. After missing a penalty in the opening stages, his effort pushed away by Giorgi Mamardashvili the Norwegian striker made amends soon after with his 99th Premier League goal. Rising above a static Ibrahima Konaté, Haaland powered in Matheus Nunes’s inviting cross to give City the lead and reassert his position as the league’s most prolific marksman.
Liverpool briefly believed they had found a way back into the contest when captain Virgil van Dijk headed home from a corner, only for the goal to be controversially ruled out for offside against Andrew Robertson. Moments later, their misery deepened. Nico González’s speculative strike took a wicked deflection off Van Dijk, wrong-footing Mamardashvili and doubling City’s advantage just before the break.
By that stage, Guardiola’s team were in full control. The outstanding Jérémy Doku, celebrating his 100th appearance for the club, was a constant menace down the left. Having tormented Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley throughout, it was fitting that the Belgian winger would seal the victory himself. Collecting a neat pass from young midfielder Nico O’Reilly just after the hour mark, Doku curled a sublime finish into the far corner, his first league goal since January to complete City’s emphatic win.
For Liverpool, it was another afternoon of frustration and introspection. Arne Slot’s side had shown signs of revival with recent wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid, but this latest setback, their fifth defeat in six league games was a stark reminder of the gulf that remains between them and the champions. The Reds, who could have gone second with a win, instead slipped eight points behind league leaders Arsenal and must now regroup as their season threatens to unravel before winter truly begins.
City, meanwhile, climbed back to second place, just four points behind Arsenal, and looked every inch the side gearing up for another sustained title challenge. Guardiola’s men were sharper, hungrier, and more precise in every department, while Liverpool’s disjointed defending and blunt attack left them chasing shadows.
Even when Liverpool finally mounted a late rally, they found Gianluigi Donnarumma, recently installed in goal following Ederson’s injury—equal to everything. The Italian denied Dominik Szoboszlai’s long-range effort and watched Mohamed Salah drag wide from close range, ensuring City’s clean sheet remained intact.
As the final whistle blew, Guardiola embraced his staff with a rare grin of satisfaction. A thousand games into a career defined by brilliance and innovation, this latest chapter showed that the hunger still burns fiercely.
For City, the chase is on again. For Liverpool, the questions keep mounting.
