Man City 3-0 Liverpool: A Convincing Win at the Etihad
Introduction
On 9 November 2025, the Etihad Stadium hosted a top‑table clash between Manchester City and Liverpool in the Premier League. With both sides in the upper echelons of the table, this was a chance to stake a claim for title credentials. In a match dominated by City, the home side ran out comfortable 3‑0 winners, thanks to goals from Erling Haaland, Nico Gonzalez — who pulled one back for the visitors — and Jérémy Doku, who sealed the win with a brilliant individual effort.
Tactical Analysis
From our analysis, Manchester City started in a 4-3-3 formation under Pep Guardiola, with a high defensive line and intense pressing. Liverpool, managed by Arne Slot, lined up in a 4-3-3 of their own, aiming to control the midfield and utilise quick transitions.
Guardiola’s side controlled the tempo through the midfield trio of Rodri, Gundogan and De Bruyne. This allowed the front three — Haaland, Doku and Mahrez — to press with purpose. Liverpool’s full‑backs, particularly Alexander‑Arnold, looked stretched dealing with Doku’s runs from the left.
Liverpool’s best chance of the first half came from a well‑worked counter‑attack, but Alisson’s distribution let them down. In the second half, Slot made a tactical switch to a 4-4-2, bringing on a second striker in an attempt to add more attacking thrust. However, City’s defence, led by Dias and Akanji, remained solid.
Guardiola made two key substitutions: Kovacic replaced Gundogan to add more defensive stability in midfield, and Foden came on for Mahrez to bring extra creativity in the final third. Slot’s changes gave Liverpool a bit more urgency, but they couldn’t break down City’s backline.
Technical Performance
Technically, Manchester City were superior. Their passing accuracy was outstanding, with the midfield and defence completing over 90 percent of their passes. The movement from Haaland was once again a nightmare for Liverpool’s centre‑halves, while Doku’s dribbling and positioning caused constant problems.
Liverpool’s attacking performance was lacklustre. Apart from the Gonzalez goal, they failed to create clear‑cut chances. Their passing accuracy dipped to around 78 percent in the second period, and the front three looked isolated for much of the match. Defensively, Van Dijk and Konaté were solid but were often caught out by City’s quick transitions.
Statistical Analysis
According to our observation, the stats told a clear story. Manchester City had 51 percent possession, 17 shots (6 on target), and 7 corners. Liverpool recorded 49 percent possession, 7 shots (1 on target), and also 7 corners. The foul count was even, with City committing 14 fouls and Liverpool 15. In terms of discipline, City received two yellow cards, while Liverpool saw four players booked.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Manchester City – Strengths
- Excellent midfield control and passing accuracy
- High‑intensity pressing and fast transitions
- Clinical finishing from Haaland and Doku
- Defensive solidity led by Dias
Manchester City – Weaknesses
- Slightly below‑par performance from the right‑wing area
Liverpool – Strengths
- Strong defensive organisation
- Good set‑piece delivery from Alexander‑Arnold
Liverpool – Weaknesses
- Lack of creativity in midfield
- Struggled to cope with City’s pace and movement
- Poor finishing in front of goal
Key Moments
The opening goal came in the 29th minute when Erling Haaland, after a slick pass from De Bruyne, calmly slotted the ball past Alisson. It was a classic Haaland finish — composed and clinical — and gave City the early lead.
Just before the break, a misplayed pass from Konaté almost led to a second, but Alisson was able to clear the danger. The momentum remained firmly with the hosts.
In the 48th minute, Liverpool pulled a goal back through Nico Gonzalez, who headed in from a corner kick. It was a well‑taken set‑piece and gave the visitors a brief lift.
However, the game was put beyond doubt in the 63rd minute when Jérémy Doku ran from his own half, weaving past three Liverpool defenders before slotting the ball into the bottom left corner. It was a moment of individual brilliance and effectively sealed the match.
Player Ratings
Manchester City
- Erling Haaland – 9/10: Scored the opening goal and was a constant threat. His movement pulled Liverpool’s defence out of shape.
- Jérémy Doku – 9/10: Outstanding performance. The goal was brilliant and he constantly beat his man.
- Rodri – 8.5/10: Controlled the midfield with intelligence and composure.
- Ederson – 7.5/10: Few saves to make but commanded his area well.
- Ruben Dias – 8/10: Solid at the back, won every aerial duel and looked comfortable.
Liverpool
- Alisson – 7/10: Could do little about the three goals. Made a couple of good stops.
- Virgil Van Dijk – 6.5/10: Struggled with Haaland’s physicality and pace.
- Mohamed Salah – 6/10: Was well marked by Walker and failed to create clear chances.
- Sadio Mané – 6/10: Worked hard but lacked service.
- Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6/10: Struggled to deal with Doku’s runs.
Overall Summary
In our view, Manchester City fully deserved their 3‑0 victory. They were superior in almost every department — tactically disciplined, technically excellent, and clinically efficient in front of goal. Liverpool will be disappointed with their performance, particularly in the first half, and will need to bounce back quickly.
Future Outlook
This win moves Manchester City closer to the top of the Premier League table and sends a strong message to their title rivals. Expect Guardiola to maintain this level of performance as the season progresses. For Liverpool, this defeat will be a learning experience under new manager Arne Slot. They will need to improve their midfield creativity and defensive resilience to compete at the top level consistently.