In case there was any doubt that the balance of power in the Premier League had shifted – away from Manchester City to the one club that has interrupted City’s modern reign – Liverpool proved it with authority at Anfield on Sunday.
They beat City 2-0, and the simplest evidence of the shift is now the EPL table. The Reds lead by as many as nine points, with City 11 points back in fifth place.
But the best evidence was all over the Anfield pitch. Liverpool tore the four-time defending champions apart for most of the 90 minutes. In the first half they extinguished a once prolific City attack by swarming the ball, biting tackles and repelling any attempt to build possession before City had even reached midfield.
The home team scored within twelve minutes through Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and finally Cody Gakpo.
And they really should have scored more. Virgil van Dijk pinged the post with one header; he narrowly missed with two others.
Gakpo and Salah skied great opportunities. Collectively, the Reds had created 2.3 expected goals (xG) across 60 minutes – a measure of the quality and quantity of chance – compared to City’s 0.2.
City remained stable throughout the second half. But after 78 minutes a Salah penalty sealed the deal. And for 90 minutes, the one-way flow was overwhelming and the conclusion was clear.
Because this wasn’t the case just one game. It was a continuation and convergence of two different trends: while City have slipped and splintered, Liverpool have risen to the top of the league. Both trends seem sustainable; neither has shown signs of abating; and so, until further notice, this is what the balance of power is in the Premier League.
The Reds, under new coach Arne Slot, have combined the most devastating aspects of Jurgen Klopp’s heavy-metal football with technical quality, opportunistic counter-attacks and impressive control. They have now won seven in a row in all competitions. They have established themselves as the Title favorites from 2024-2025 and the most complete team in the league.
City, on the other hand, have now lost four times in a row in the league. They are without a win in seven games in all competitions – the longest winless run of Pep Guardiola’s managerial career. They look flawed and old, like a fallen force clinging to battle plans that broken soldiers can no longer carry out.
They were vulnerable without Rodri, the Ballon d’Or winner whose cruciate ligament ruptured in September.
They sputtered in the final third, with Erling Haaland’s supporting cast looking rather ordinary.
They have failed to replace Rodri or adapt without him. They have failed to acclimatize to their new reality. They have failed to recalibrate a team that once controlled games and hummed around the field like a well-oiled machine.
As all this became clear under the lights at Anfield on Sunday, cheerful Liverpool fans sang for Guardiola: “You’ll be sacked tomorrow morning! Sacked in the mooooorning!”
Guardiola smiled and raised six fingers in response – presumably one for each of the Premier League titles he has won.
However, Liverpool fans strolled into the Mersyside evening knowing that number 7 is unlikely to be joining Guardiola’s trophy cabinet and Manchester City any time soon.
