Manchester City secured a 3-0 victory over Premier League champions Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on November 9, 2025, in Pep Guardiola's 1,000th match as a manager. Erling Haaland scored the opener after an early penalty save, while Jeremy Doku added a stunning third goal. The result moved City to second place, four points behind leaders Arsenal, as Liverpool dropped to eighth.
Match Overview
Manchester City dominated Liverpool in a one-sided Premier League encounter, winning 3-0 to mark Pep Guardiola's milestone 1,000th game in management. The hosts, playing at the Etihad Stadium, showcased sharp attacking play and solid defense, ending a four-game winless run against Liverpool in the league.
Key Moments
- 9th minute: Jeremy Doku burst past defenders and was fouled by goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, leading to a VAR-awarded penalty. Erling Haaland's spot-kick was saved one-handed by Mamardashvili.
- 29th minute: Haaland redeemed himself with a header from Matheus Nunes' cross, soaring above Ibrahima Konaté to score his 14th league goal of the season and 99th in the Premier League overall. The goal capped a 19-pass move.
- Before halftime: Liverpool thought they had equalized when Virgil van Dijk headed in Mohamed Salah's corner, but the goal was disallowed for offside against Andy Robertson, who ducked in front of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Arne Slot called it "the wrong decision," noting Robertson "didn’t interfere at all" and citing a similar incident allowed for City last season.
- 45+1 minute: Nico González's long-range strike deflected off Van Dijk to make it 2-0, wrong-footing Mamardashvili.
- 61st minute: Doku sealed the win with a curling 25-yard right-footed shot into the top corner, his first league goal since January, assisted by Nico O’Reilly.
Liverpool had chances in the second half, with Donnarumma saving from Dominik Szoboszlai and Salah poking wide, but could not respond. City created 1.6 expected goals (xG) to Liverpool's 0.7.
Post-Match Reactions
Guardiola praised his players: "They gave me a good present with this performance against the champions." He highlighted defensive solidity against threats like Salah, Szoboszlai, and Florian Wirtz, and Doku's outstanding threat alongside Haaland.
Slot admitted City's superiority: "It was a very difficult first half for us. They were pressing us really high." On the title race, he said, "Last season when we were eight points clear it never felt it was done already."
Doku, named man of the match, said: "In big games, it is always more beautiful. I am happy with the game and the performance of the team."
Implications
The win saw City rise to second, four points behind Arsenal after 11 games. Liverpool, with five defeats already—the most by a reigning champion at this stage since Leicester in 2016-17—sit eighth, eight points off the top, having lost four straight away league games.
Liverpool are the first reigning champions to concede 17 goals in their first 11 games since 2020-21. City, meanwhile, boast 20 goals from open play in their first 10 games, none from set pieces.
