Liverpool v Manchester City LIVE: Result and reaction after leaders pile more misery on Pep Guardiola’s side

Liverpool confirmed their place as top contenders for the Premier League title as they piled yet more misery on Manchester City with a 2-0 victory at Anfield.

Arne Slot’s extended their advantage at the top of the table to nine points and now lead their long-time title rivals by 11 points. Cody Gakpo turned home the opener early on after a rampant start from the hosts as Mohamed Salah laid a goal on a plate for his front-three colleague, with Liverpool unfortunate not to add to their tally in a dominant first-half performance.

Things continued in much the same vein after the interval, with Salah adding a second from the spot with a cool and crisp penalty. It extended Manchester City’s run of games without a win to seven in all competitions, leaving any prospect of a title challenge surely slim.

Re-live all of the action from Anfield in our live blog below:

Liverpool vs Manchester City LIVE

• Liverpool dominate Man Cith clash to extend advantage to nine points at top of the table

• The Reds open up an 11-point gap over the champions with 2-0 victory

• City are now without a win in their last seven

• 12’ GOAL! Gakpo taps home after a sensational run and cross from Salah [LIV 1-0 MCI]

• 56’ CLOSE! Salah goes through on goal but blasts effort over the bar [LIV 1-0 MCI]

• 78’ GOAL! Salah penalty doubles the lead [LIV 2-0 MCI]

Liverpool FC 2 - 0 Manchester City FC

More from Guardiola

18:45 , Chris Wilson

“We didn’t have a pre-season and then injuries, but we know that and we have to survive with that. We competed but didn’t create many chances.

“I am here sitting as a manager and defending what we have done in the past thanks to them and more than ever I want to be with them and hug them. We have to change results and in the right time we will take the decision.

“All the stadiums want to sack me, it started at Brighton! Maybe they are right with the results we’ve been having. I didn’t expect that at Anfield.

“They didn’t do it at 1-0, but at 2-0. Maybe they should have sung it in the past. I didn’t expect it from the people from Liverpool but it’s fine, it’s part of the game, and I understand completely.

“We’ve had incredible battles together. I have a respect for them.

“I said before this game that we weren’t in a position to think about targets but the season is long. We have to think about making results and then some players will come back and then we’ll be better and we’ll believe maybe.

“There are many things to fight for and we’re going to try.”

Guardiola: “We’ll see what happens by the end of the season"

18:40 , Chris Wilson

Pep Guardiola says that Liverpool “were unstoppable” in the first 15 to 20 minutes.

“They started so strong, we tried to play with a lot of control and passes, but it was difficult to take it.

“They deserved the first goal, but we started the first half so well and played well in the second half without too much threat. I know how strong Liverpool are in both boxes.

“I congratulate them and we’ll reset and start from zero and it is difficult to believe it. I rely a lot on these players, I know they are doing in this position. We’ll see what happens by the end of the season.

“We can always do the short passes, and we can do it, but we don’t have many alternatives. All I can say is thank you to them because I know the commitment that they showed with and without the ball. Maybe I had a feeling inside me that we will build from them. We will restart and try and make a good run.

“There is a moment where maybe it will click. Today Kevin [De Bruyne] played good minutes and Jack [Grealish] played well in that position and Jeremy [Doku] played good minutes after a month out. Bernardo and Rico [Lewis] have a lot of minutes in their legs.

“Nathan [Ake] was exceptional against maybe one of the great wingers. I congratulate Liverpool, they deserve the victory and we accept the situation right now and we’ll build from that.”

Slot says it was almost a perfect match

18:35 , Chris Wilson

Arne Slot some to Sky and said that in particular, “work-rate I think it was perfect”.

“The amount of chances we miss made it tight at the end. But maybe that’s nice for matches like this. It should be like this. But it would have been nicer to score the second goal earlier.

“We always press high but they’re so good at build-up. So you have to work very hard. Our players had energy. Apart from our players, the crowd was fantastic today as well.

“They always make it difficult for you in the way they position. It’s not only formation. Nine out of 10 times it’s the quality of the players. We have some quality players on the pitch too.

“We’re a compatible team and it’s difficult to beat us. But also we have to put the effort in. But we have injuries. We had to take Trent off. It would have been a risk. These are the challenges we face at the moment but every team has to face these challenges over a season.

“Next week is another big week against Newcastle and Everton.

“I don’t think anyone, including me, would have predicted this [start]. I knew Jurgen [Klopp] left the team in a very good place. But still, to win so much with all the difficult teams we have played already is not something you could predict at the start of the season.

“But, like I say, I saw Arsenal yesterday and Chelsea today and I saw City, they will come back because these teams have so much quality. They could go on the same run as us. So we have to stay sharp and focused.”

Liverpool move nine points clear at top after heaping more misery on Man City

18:29 , Chris Wilson

Liverpool moved nine points clear at the top of the Premier League after a potentially season-defining 2-0 victory over a Manchester City side in disarray.

That Pep Guardiola’s team are now 11 points adrift in fifth after a seventh match without victory says everything about the club’s current crisis which showed no signs of ending at Anfield, where they have won on only one of the last 22 league visits.

City have now lost four league games in a row in the same campaign for the first time since 2007.

Arsenal are the closest challengers but even they have work to do after Arne Slot’s side won an 18th match out of 20 this term with a degree of comfort.

Liverpool move nine points clear at top after heaping more misery on Man City

Van Dijk: “No point getting ahead of ourselves"

18:19 , Chris Wilson

Virgil van Dijk tells Sky that there’s “no point getting ahead of ourselves” after another win.

“I think City is a fantastic team. Four-time champions in a row. They have the quality to punish any team. But I think we were solid defensively and had great chances. We could have scored more.

“Good game. We won. And we move on.

“We focus on the next game. That’s the only thing we can do. There’s no point at this stage of the season to get ahead of ourselves.

“Of course everybody wants to be in a position where they are 11 points ahead of their opponents. But there’s so many twists and turns. We have injuries to our team unfortunately and we have to deal with that.”

Salah: “Until now this is the last City game I will play for Liverpool"

18:11 , Chris Wilson

Salah and van Dijk are the first to react to the result, and they’re speaking to Sky, with the Egyptian saying that “the fans were behind us from the first minute”.

“I’m glad we managed to win the game, we know that City are going to come [at us].”

On his goal, he adds: “We train well that if I have the ball on one side he is there at the other post. Every time I have the ball, if there is a chance and I can give it to you, I will.”

“It’s very special. I don’t take it for granted. I’m enjoying every minute here. It feels like home. It’s always special feeling always scoring at Anfield and winning games.”

“Honestly it’s in my head. Until now this is the last City game I will play for Liverpool so I was just going to enjoy it. The atmosphere was incredible so I will enjoy every second here.

“Hopefully we just win the league and will see what will happen.”

How the table looks

18:05 , Chris Wilson

So Liverpool once again extend their lead at the top of the Premier League as they move nine points clear of second-placed Arsenal (and Chelsea in third). They’re now 11 points clear of City too.

That result means Pep Guardiola’s side fall to fifth, level on points with Brighton but below the Seagulls on goal difference.

FULL-TIME! Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City

17:59 , Chris Wilson

FULL-TIME! Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City

17:54 , Chris Wilson

FULL-TIME! The referee brings it to an end and Liverpool go nine points clear of Arsenal, and 11 clear of City, at the top of the table.

Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City

17:53 , Chris Wilson

93 mins

No letting up from Liverpool, with van Dijk coming across to block Silva’s effort after Doku had slid through a nice pass. Nunez heads away the corner, and that’ll be that.

Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City

17:52 , Chris Wilson

92 mins

There’ll be four minutes of added time here, and we’re into the second. It’s all Liverpool too, as Robertson is the latest to see a promising effort from deep blocked.

Moments later, Nunez is through and he fires his effort at Ortega, but he was offside anyway.

Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City

17:51 , Chris Wilson

90 mins

The hosts win it from Walker on the edge of the City box, and Jones hits a low effort to the front post that is saved for a corner.

Harvey Elliott replaces Luis Diaz, before the corner is cleared.

Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City

17:49 , Chris Wilson

88 mins

Guardiola looks bemused on the touchline, with his side just seeming completely devoid of attacking ideas. Liverpool break but Szoboszlai can’t get the shot away before he’s forced wide.

Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City

17:48 , Chris Wilson

86 mins

It’s all gone a bit pedestrian at Anfield, which will obviously suit the hosts. Savinho gives the ball away in midfield and Jones pounces, playing it forward to Diaz, but the home side decide to recycle possession.

Chants of “sacked in the morning” ring around the stadium towards Guardiola.

Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City

17:44 , Chris Wilson

83 mins

Almost a moment of madness as van Dijk hesitates on the ball and De Bruyne dispossesses him to break through one-on-one, but Kelleher races off his line to prevent the shot.

Salah comes off for Liverpool, and he’s replaced by Curtis Jones.

Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City

17:42 , Chris Wilson

82 mins

City attack again but once again Doku just runs into a wall of red shirts, before Dias hits a tame shot from distance that dribbles through to Kelleher.

It looks done and dusted here.

Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City

17:39 , Chris Wilson

79 mins

Guardiola has made two more changes, as Lewis and Foden come off for De Bruyne and Grealish.

GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City

17:38 , Chris Wilson

78 mins

GOAL! And that could be that.

Salah steps up and rifles his penalty low and into the corner, beating Ortega with a mix of great power and placement.

PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL! Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

17:37 , Chris Wilson

77 mins

PENALTY! It all comes from a City mistake. Akanji is dawdling in possession and Diaz pounces, taking it off Walker, and he’s clean through. He rushes onto the ball on the edge of the box and pokes it past Ortega, who had come off his line, and he’s taken down for the penalty!

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

17:34 , Chris Wilson

75 mins

It’s good play from van Dijk to break into the City half and thread a pass to Nunuez, but the Uruguayan can’t make the most of it.

For reference, Slot has asked Quansah to move to right-back, not Gomez.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

17:32 , Chris Wilson

72 mins

Doku’s dribbling has been good but his final ball has been disappointing on at least three occasions now. City are still yet to register a shot on target.

Liverpool make two changes, as Jarell Quansah and Darwin Nunez replace Alexander-Arnold and Cody Gakpo. That presumably means Gomez will shift to right-back.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

17:30 , Chris Wilson

70 mins

City are faring far better at the moment, and have some more threat in attack through Doku and Savinho, but the Liverpool defence has remained impressive so far, with Alexander-Arnold the latest to dispossess a City player in the box.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

17:29 , Chris Wilson

68 mins

A clever little flick from Doku gets him away from Alexander-Arnold, but his cross is blocked. Liverpool break and Gakpo cuts inside, but his effort is straight at Ortega when he had options on either side.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

17:26 , Chris Wilson

66 mins

CLOSE! Liverpool break but it was offside in the end anyway.

Gakpo pokes a pass to Alexander-Arnold, who exchanges passes with Salah before firing a low shot right at Ortega.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

17:23 , Chris Wilson

64 mins

Salah picks up the loose ball in midfield and surges into the box, eventually rifling a shot into the side-netting. Half a chance for someone of his quality!

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

17:22 , Chris Wilson

63 mins

Haaland is almost in after a long ball over the top from Akanji, but once again van Dijk is there to clear. He’s dominating that battle so far.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

17:21 , Chris Wilson

61 mins

City have improved over the last few minutes, and more so since the subs have come on - they have a little more pace and energy in attack now. Nevertheless, they still aren’t managing to create meaningful chances.

A lovely dummy from Mac Allister starts a Liverpool attack, but Szoboszlai can’t provide the cross.

ANALYSIS: Manchester City sticking in the battle but running out of options

17:19 , Richard Jolly at Anfield

Reasons to be optimistic for Manchester City? It is only 1-0, despite Liverpool's early dominance. And Pep Guardiola has unleashed a couple of potential game-changers on the bench, in the shape of Jeremy Doku and Savinho, while he still has one more card to play, in Kevin de Bruyne.

But there aren't too many others. Virgil van Dijk still has a huge threat at every corner. Mohamed Salah has just missed a sitter. Liverpool look the faster side. And so far under Arne Slot, as their record of 17 wins out of 19 shows, they tend to be good at holding on to leads.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

17:17 , Chris Wilson

56 mins

CLOSE! Liverpool win possession after Salah chases down Silva’s loose pass to Akanji. He gets there before the Swiss defender and he’s now one-on-one with the ‘keeper, with Gakpo supporting him. He drives towards goal and opens his body up to put it into the far corner, but he hooks his effort over the bar!

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

17:15 , Chris Wilson

55 mins

Much better from City as Silva drives forward with plenty of space opening up in front of him. It’s worked to Walker on the overlap, and his clipped cross ends up going out for a goal kick.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

17:13 , Chris Wilson

53 mins

Slightly more promising from City as they work it forward and win another corner. Gundogan delivers it, but once again van Dijk is there to head clear.

The visitors recycle possession, but Foden can’t reach the pass forward.

17:11 , Chris Wilson

51 mins

The corner is headed on by Akanji but it’s a looping effort and Kelleher collects. Liverpool break and Robertson plays a lovely diagonal pass into the path of Gakpo, who controls it and forces Ortega and Nunes into some last-ditch defending.

From the corner, van Dijk heads narrowly over at the front post.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

17:09 , Chris Wilson

49 mins

City have had plenty of the ball since the restart, and they win their first corner of the match as Foden’s cutback is blocked.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

17:07 , Chris Wilson

47 mins

Walker gets forward and City find him, but he’s well offside.

The camera pans to De Bruyne warming up on the sideline.

KICK-OFF! Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

17:05 , Chris Wilson

The away side get us started in the second half – will Liverpool go 11 points clear of their opponents come the end of play?

HALF-TIME! Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

17:04 , Chris Wilson

Both sides are re-emerging from the tunnel, so we’ll be back underway soon.

HALF-TIME! Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:59 , Chris Wilson

It was a remarkable half in ways, perhaps mostly in that Liverpool are only one goal ahead.

They made a blistering start and were on top for almost the entire 45 minutes, creating chance after chance in the opening 20 or so.

The pace fell a little midway into the half when City settled, though the hosts didn’t allow them a single chance of note.

City weren’t bad, so to speak, in the final 20 minutes or so, but they just look a bit flat and disjointed in attack.

HALF-TIME! Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:54 , Chris Wilson

HALF-TIME! Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:49 , Chris Wilson

48 mins

HALF-TIME!

The referee brings the first half to an end and Liverpool go in ahead at the break, though City are still in this (barely).

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:48 , Chris Wilson

46 mins

The corner comes to nothing as Szoboszlai squares it to Alexander-Arnold, who fires well over from distance.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:47 , Chris Wilson

45 mins

There’ll be three minutes of added time here, as a Liverpool counter is stopped as Ake intercepts Diaz’s pass. Moments later, Salah runs at the Dutchman again and wins a corner.

Akanji is another player into the referee’s book, after a late challenge of his own.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:46 , Chris Wilson

44 mins

City are enjoying more possession over the last few minutes, but they can’t make anything of it yet. It’s all a bit static at the moment.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:43 , Chris Wilson

41 mins

The match has certainly settled down now as we approach half-time, but little has changed in terms of Liverpool’s overall control.

The hosts have obviously not been able to keep up the same level of early pressing, but they’re limiting City whenever they do have it.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:40 , Chris Wilson

39 mins

Home fans want a penalty as Gakpo goes down when trying to control a long pass, but the referee waves it away.

City have a chance to get forward and Gundogan slips it to Haaland, who squares it to Lewis. He sees the space open up in front of him and opts to shoot, but it’s a tame effort that dribbles wide.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:38 , Chris Wilson

37 mins

It was a chance to get the ball into the box for City but it’s so poor, as they play it short and then dawdle on it before Walker clips a long ball to nobody.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:36 , Chris Wilson

36 mins

Nice play from Gakpo as he picks it up and manages to get around Walker, but he loses his balance as he tries to cut it back. On the counter, Gravenberch brings down Gundogan, and the Dutchman is the latest to be booked.

ANALYSIS: Manchester City restore sense of calm - Liverpool must make dominance count

16:35 , Miguel Delaney at Anfield

It's hard to think of too many occasions, even one, when someone has done this to a Pep Guardiola team. Liverpool have just dominated Manchester City like Pep Guardiola's initial Barcelona team, from the possession to the pressing.

City have managed to calm things a bit, but only a bit. It could easily be 4-0 to Liverpool and that wouldn't be any way undeserved. The first 20 minutes was remarkable football, where the champions just couldn't live with Liverpool's energy. That has inevitably dissipated in the natural ebb and flow of games, but there's just constantly that danger for City that Liverpool can just rev up. Against that, City haven't had a shot and have barely had a meaningful touch in the box. For one, when Erling Haaland finally looked like he might make something happen, Virgil van Dijk easily nicked the ball away. The Liverpool centre-half has offered much more of a goal threat, particularly two his two close headers from set-pieces. There is maybe just that slight sense, however, that Liverpool need to make this utter dominance really count so there's no risk.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:35 , Chris Wilson

34 mins

Salah wins another corner and this one is headed away, falling to Alexander-Arnold on the edge of the box. He brings it down well and fires a shot from distance that clips the bottom of the post!

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:33 , Chris Wilson

32 mins

The attacking play has been a bit more measured from Liverpool over the last 10 minutes (rather than waiting to pounce on the counter), though Foden gets a yellow card for stopping Gravenberch on the counter by pulling him back.

It’s less frantic than before, but still comfortable for the hosts.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:31 , Chris Wilson

29 mins

City have definitely settled in possession now, though they haven’t created anything in attack. Liverpool look so dangerous on the break too. They win it back high up the pitch again and Alexandr-Arnold opts to shoot from just outside the box, but Akanji makes the block.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:27 , Chris Wilson

27 mins

Van Dijk does well in his first tussle with Haaland, winning the ball off him as the Norwegian dribbled towards the edge of the box. City have settled somewhat in the last few minutes, but they’re coming under plenty of pressure with the home side’s high press.

City get forward but Foden can’t find the pass in the opposition box.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:25 , Chris Wilson

25 mins

City do get forward, led by Nunes down the left, but he has it taken off his foot by Alexander-Arnold. When chasing back, Nunes slides in from behind and gets an early booking.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:24 , Chris Wilson

24 mins

Nunes is chasing down Alexander-Arnold in the Liverpool box but the full-back manages to get it clear.

The home side have had 45 touches in the final third, compared to City’s five.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:22 , Chris Wilson

21 mins

It’s still all Liverpool at the moment, with Robertson the latest to fly forward and win a corner.

No shots yet for the away side – they’ve not even come close to one.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:20 , Chris Wilson

19 mins

Another chance for the hosts as Salah, Diaz and Alexander-Arnold combine in the box to set the latter free. He squares a short pass to Gakpo in the box, but he hooks an effort well over.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:19 , Chris Wilson

17 mins

Alexander-Arnold has the ball in his own box and he picks out a superb 70-yard pass right into the path of Gakpo, but Ake does well to lunge and clear for a corner.

From the set-piece, van Dijk climbs highest again, but he can only power a header wide of the near post.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:16 , Jack Rathborn

After a breathtaking 10 minutes, our senior football correspondent Richard Jolly has the latest from Anfield:

For 10 minutes, Manchester City were battered by Liverpool yet did not come close to conceding. Then Virgil van Dijk hit the post. Then Cody Gakpo scored and the ferocious pace at which Liverpool started took its toll. But some of these City players lack pace and Liverpool seem determined to make their physical advantage tell. City's lack of a proper defensive midfielder is apparent in the freedom Dominik Szoboszlai is enjoying while the plan of using Nathan Ake against Salah backfired when Manuel Akanji was the nearest man to him - but not near enough - when he crossed for Gakpo. Quite a week for Gakpo, too, with goals against Real Madrid and City within a few days.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:15 , Chris Wilson

14 mins

What a start from Liverpool, and their early pressure pays off. Even this early on, it’s hard to see City recovering, such has been the flow of the game.

GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

16:14 , Chris Wilson

12 mins

Moments after van Dijk rattles the post with a header, the home side are ahead!

Liverpool recycle possession from that chance and they come again, with Salah latching onto a long diagonal pass. He drives into the area, looks up and plays a lovely cross into the area between the defenders and Ortega – it falls to Gakpo at the back post, and he taps in for 1-0!

Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City

16:11 , Chris Wilson

10 mins

It’s the hosts doing all the attacking in the opening stages, with Szoboszlai the latest to test Ortega with an effort from distance, before Alexander-Arnold wins a corner.

Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City

16:10 , Chris Wilson

8 mins

City are struggling to keep the ball when they do have it – Liverpool have made a lightning-quick start, with the visitors looking shaky.

Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City

16:08 , Chris Wilson

7 mins

Another chance for the home side as Akanji gives the ball straight to Gravenberch, but it’s another shot straight at Ortega.

The hosts have started brighter here, and city haven’t managed to settle yet.

Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City

16:07 , Chris Wilson

6 mins

Dias does well to win his first tussle with Salah, but his clearance is straight back to the hosts. Szoboszlai drives in a low cross, but there are too many bodies in the box for Diaz to find a shooting chance.

Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City

16:06 , Chris Wilson

4 mins

First good chance of the match as Liverpool pounce to win possession in midfield and Diaz slides it to Gakpo. He cuts back and eventually forces a good save from Ortega, but he’d strayed offside anyway.

Warning signs for City.

Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City

16:03 , Chris Wilson

2 mins

Liverpool have the first half-chance of the match as Salah clips in a diagonal cross, but it runs out of play.

The home sides have made a quick start, applying plenty of pressure.

KICK-OFF! Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City

16:01 , Chris Wilson

The home side get us underway at Anfield! What a game we could have in store here.

Liverpool vs Manchester City LIVE

15:56 , Chris Wilson

Both sides are coming out of the tunnel at Anfield, so we’re only a few minutes away from kick-off.

City have lost their last three Premier League games, as many as they had in their previous 47 combined (W35 D9). They last lost four consecutive league games between April-August 2008.

In his managerial career, Pep Guardiola has only lost more games against Tottenham (9) than he has against Liverpool (8). He’s won just six of his 22 meetings with the Reds (27 per cent), which is his lowest win rate against any side he’s faced more than five times in all competitions.

The inspiration at heart of Arne Slot and Pep Guardiola’s new rivalry

15:47 , Chris Wilson

Arne Slot liked what he heard and then what he saw. He had tuned in on Tuesday. He had a personal and a professional interest when his former club visited his next opponents. “What made this game special for me was more sitting at home, putting the volume up and hearing the Feyenoord fans singing my name,” he said. “That’s the biggest compliment you can get if you leave a club, that the fans still like you.”

The team that Slot built then shocked the side he will face on Sunday. Manchester City were seemingly heading to Anfield this weekend with a restorative win. Then came a comeback for the ages and for the watching Slot: no side had been 3-0 down that late in a European Cup game and avoided defeat. “For me as a Feyenoord fan, I could hardly believe what I saw,” said Slot.

“At 3-1 you thought, ‘OK…’ but then City took control again. Then it was 3-2 and then 3-3. You don’t see this very often. It was the first time in the history of the Champions League this has happened.” It prompted Slot to get in touch with some old friends. “I spoke to more than a few people to congratulate them but it was not in a tactical manner,” he said.

The inspiration at heart of Arne Slot and Pep Guardiola’s new rivalry

Team news - Manchester City

14:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Pep Guardiola swings the selection scythe with goalkeeper Ederson only on the bench as Stefan Ortega is given a big opportunity. Rico Lewis looks likely to occupy the Rodri role.

Manchester City XI: Ortega; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Ake; Lewis, Gundogan, Nunes; Bernardo, Haaland, Foden.

Team news - Liverpool

14:48 , Harry Latham-Coyle

With no Ibrahima Konate, it is Joe Gomez to partner Virgil van Dijk in the heart of a Liverpool defence that also includes Trent Alexander-Arnold. Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo both start in the front three.

Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz.