Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City: Anfield Defeat Amplifies Guardiola’s Problems
Manchester City’s 2-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield has further dented their Premier League title hopes, marking their seventh consecutive match without a victory in all competitions. Pep Guardiola’s side is now fifth in the league standings, leaving their title chances hanging by a thread.
Guardiola made the surprising decision to drop Ederson, who had been one of City’s best players this season despite errors against Feyenoord. Stefan Ortega stepped in, but City’s defense was exposed from the start. Within 20 minutes, Liverpool hit the post twice, Ortega made two key saves, and City still found themselves 1-0 down.
City’s struggles were evident as Ruben Dias repeatedly held the ball, waiting for Liverpool to press—a stark departure from Guardiola’s usual philosophy of proactive play. Liverpool capitalized on City’s hesitancy, creating numerous chances and controlling the game.
City’s attack fared no better. Erling Haaland, starved of service, had little impact, while set-piece opportunities were squandered. A free-kick sequence summed up their disarray, with Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva failing to create anything meaningful, allowing Liverpool to regain possession effortlessly.
Guardiola’s post-match frustration was palpable:
“These players won the title a few months ago. They have not become bad players overnight,” he said, but acknowledged the urgent need for solutions. The January transfer market looms as a potential remedy, though Guardiola admitted, “Good luck finding the one or two players that will prove an instant fix.”
Despite brief moments of improvement—Rico Lewis finding pockets of space and Jeremy Doku causing trouble after coming on—City lacked the quality to turn their second-half fightback into a result. A late penalty from Mohamed Salah, following a foul on Luis Diaz, sealed Liverpool’s victory.
This defeat highlights deeper issues within the City squad. Guardiola fielded a starting XI with only one league goal this season—Haaland—emphasizing their lack of attacking firepower. The manager’s response to taunts from the home crowd, where he pointed six fingers referencing City’s recent titles, felt more defiant than confident.
City now face Nottingham Forest on Wednesday, but after seven painful games, optimism is scarce. Guardiola and his players must find answers quickly to prevent their season from unraveling further. “This has been on the cards for a while,” Guardiola admitted, as City’s current slump threatens to overshadow their past glories.
