MAN CITY 5, LIVERPOOL 0
Not many saw this coming as Manchester City recorded their biggest win against Liverpool since 1937.
City produced a devastating display that showed why they are favourites for the Premier League title as they humiliated one of their main rivals.
True City were helped when Liverpool were reduced to 10 men in the opening half when Sadio Mane was sent off for a high boot that connected with Ederson Moraes and left the keeper leaving the field on a stretcher.
But the way City took advantage of their extra man was impressive, but Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will have been worried by his side’s capitulation.
There were two goals apiece for Gabriel Jesus and Leroy Sane while Sergio Aguero also got on to the scoresheet in the rout.
City coach Pep Guardiola was pleased with the way they made their extra man pay, saying: “When two teams at that level play 10 against 11 for 50 minutes it is a big advantage.
“We were the better against Everton with 10 men. I was not easy to play against 10 men, but we did it well. It should have been easier for Everton.”
Guardiola admitted the game was “equal” when it was 11 against 11.
The City coach revealed keeper Ederson has not broken any bones, it had been feared he may have done his cheekbone/jaw.
“Hopefully he will be back soon as he is important to us, though he may not play the next game,” he said.
Guardiola, commenting on the sending off, said there was no intention and the striker went for the ball.
Klopp described it as an “accident” adding Sane was upset to have hurt Ederson.
Of the game, Klopp added: “We must forget the result. It was a hard lesson and we have to learn from it.
“We had our chances in the first half with 11 men. We couldn’t capitalise on our good moments.”
City made three changes from the side that won at Bournemouth.
John Stones came in for the injured Vincent Kompany, Aguero for the banned Raheem Sterling while Kyle Walker returned after suspension for Bernardo Silva.
Liverpool brought Simon Mignolet, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ragnar Klavan into their reshaped defence for Loris Karius, Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren.
While Liverpool dominated the early possession, it was City who carved out the better chances as Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho forced diving saves from Mignolet, the latter an excellent stop.
And City took a 24th minute lead through Aguero.
De Bruyne’s excellent through ball released the Argentine striker who raced clear and rounded Mignolet to net his second goal of the season.
Liverpool responded positively as Emre Can fired a free kick wide and Mohamed Salah forced a decent diving save from Ederson after after being put through by Mane.
City could have doubled their lead when Gabriel Jesus wriggled past three players only for Mignolet to block his close-range corner.
From the resulting corner, Stones’ shot was saved by the legs of Mignolet.
There was drama in the 37th minute when Mane was sent off for a challenge on Ederson.
The Senegal striker was put through as Ederson came hurtling outside his area to be caught in the head by a high boot.
Ederson, clearly badly hurt, left the field on a stretcher to be replaced by Claudio Bravo following an eight minute stoppage.
City thought they had added a second goal in stoppage time when Jesus headed in De Bruyne’s cross, but the Brazilian had strayed offside.
But they a second in the 50th minute of the opening half through the same combination.
De Bruyne crosses from the left – the other was from the right – and Jesus was left completely free six yards out to head home.
Liverpool made a change at the break as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came on for his debut in place of Salah.
City thought they had scored a third goal in the 53rd minute when Aguero converted a cross from Benjamin Mendy, but he was ruled offside.
But moments later it was 3-0 when Aguero raced clean through on to Fernandinho’s pass and unselfishly squared the ball for Jesus to sweep home.
Remarkably, Jesus has been involved in 14 goals in 12 league games for City with 10 goals an four assists.
City made a second change when Sane replaced Jesus and their last one with 20 minutes to go when Eliaquim Mangala came on for Nicolas Otamendi.
Mignolet prevented a four goal with a great stop to prevent Joel Matip finding his own net as he miscued a clearance from Mendy’s cross.
City added a deserved fourth goal in the 77th minute when Mendy delivered a other delicious cross from the left that Sane clinically converted at the near post.
There was almost a fifth goal when Aguero was denied by a super stop by Mignolet after sliding in to meet a Sane cross.
Ederson reappeared in the dugout with one minute to do, a dressing covering a wound to his cheek.
And it was 5-0 in stoppage time as Walker set up Sane who curled a delightful shot into the top corner from 20 yards.