Match reportLiverpool beat Manchester City 2-0 to go nine points clear at top of Premier League

Cody Gakpo’s early goal – scored during a blistering opening 20 minutes from the Reds – was supplemented by a 78th-minute penalty from Mohamed Salah as Arne Slot’s side pulled further ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea, who sit joint-second in the table.

The result means City are now 11 points adrift of the remarkable pace set by Liverpool, who have amassed 34 points from their first 13 top-flight matches of the season.

Team news

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Dominik Szoboszlai and Gakpo started as Slot made four changes from the midweek win over Real Madrid.

Curtis Jones and Darwin Nunez were named on the bench, while Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate were ruled out through injury.

Starting XI: Kelleher, Gomez, Van Dijk, Diaz (Elliott, 90), Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah (Jones, 84), Gakpo (Nunez, 72), Robertson, Gravenberch, Alexander-Arnold (Quansah, 72).

Unused subs: Jaros, Davies, Endo, Morton, Nyoni.

First half

Incessant Liverpool pressure from the off was soundtracked by vociferous backing from the home supporters.

Sights of Stefan Ortega’s goal were arriving regularly as City struggled to contain the Reds, with Szoboszlai smashing three powerful shots goalwards in quick succession.

The visitors’ ploy of trying to slow the game down at every opportunity was futile as Slot’s team kept coming. The woodwork was struck when Virgil van Dijk towered above Nathan Ake at the back post to meet Szoboszlai’s cross, only for Ortega’s fingertips to divert the ball onto the post.

City could hold out no longer, though, as days after doing so against Real, Gakpo notched at the Kop end again.

The goal was fashioned by two passes of the highest class, from Alexander-Arnold and Salah. The former moved infield and faded a trademark quarterback delivery into the latter from deep.

Salah delayed before threading the ball through City’s back line to the far post for Gakpo, who ghosted in to convert from inside the six-yard box.

There was to be no immediate let-up from the Reds and Van Dijk planted a header from Alexis Mac Allister’s corner just wide before Gakpo, leaning back, shot well over the crossbar.

Liverpool’s degree of dominance was both absolute and unsustainable and City were able to gain something of a foothold, although Caoimhin Kelleher remained untroubled and the hosts’ half-time lead was fully merited.

Second half

It was a more even contest in the early stages of the second period, but the pick of the chances were still Liverpool’s.

The best opportunity was both created and spurned by Salah, who intercepted Bernardo Silva’s pass, skipped away from Manuel Akanji and bore down on goal. When his effort came, however, it cleared the bar.

A reprieve for City, who sought to take advantage and enjoyed their best spell of the match. Erling Haaland saw an attempt blocked as Liverpool defended resolutely.

With 20 minutes left, Slot introduced fresh legs with Nunez and Jarell Quansah on for Gakpo and Alexander-Arnold, and Nunez played his part in creating the hosts’ second of the afternoon.

Nunez harried Ruben Dias and the irrepressible Luis Diaz surged onto the loose ball, nicked it away from Ortega and was brought down by the ’keeper. Salah stepped up and rolled his penalty into the bottom right corner.

Kelleher had been a near-bystander for the entirety of the game but, when required, produced with his customary assurance as he thwarted Kevin De Bruyne after the otherwise-imperious Van Dijk’s only mistake.

There was still time for Harvey Elliott to make his return from injury as a late substitute, too, on an almost-perfect day for Liverpool.

Attendance: 60,248