Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City: Cityzens' Player Ratings as they fall to a sixth defeat in seven games | Premier League 2024-25
Manchester City fell to a toothless 2-0 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday, December 1. The result sees the Reds extend their lead at the top of the league to nine points, while City drop down to fifth place with 23 points from 13 matches.
Both Liverpool and Manchester City made decent starts to the game as they both started off in search of the early goal. The two sides shared the ball nearly equally in the opening exchanges, but the Reds struck the first blow. Cody Gakpo put the hosts ahead after 12 minutes after receiving an assist from Mohamed Salah. It was just one of four shots on target managed by the hosts from 10 attempts.
Manchester City, on the other hand, managed just one shot on target in the first half. Pep Guardiola's men looked like a shadow of themselves without their key played and struggled to take the ball closer to Liverpool's game to threaten them. Their midfielders could not keep the ball long enough to carve openings out, and their wingers could not find space on the flanks.
As a result, the Reds found themselves in a fairly comfortable place despite leading by just one goal heading into the half-time interval.
The second half saw Guardiola turn to his bench pretty early on as he brought on Savinho and Jeremy Doku with hopes of turning the tide in their favour. Manchester City even dominated possession in the second half as they kept the ball for 66% of the time. However, they managed just two shots on target from seven attempts as their struggles continued.
Hosts Liverpool, on the other hand, made some smart changes to their lineup. They also had lesser of the ball but managed eight attempts, with three of those on target. City custodian Stefan Ortega fouled Luis Diaz and conceded a penalty, which Mohamed Salah converted with relative ease to give Arne Slot's men a comfortable 2-0 win in front of their home fans.
After defeat, Guardiola and his men will desperately hope to snap out of their seven-game winless streak. On that note, let's take a look at City's player ratings for this match.
Manchester City Player Ratings
Stefan Ortega - 7/10
Ortega made five saves for Manchester City, but also conceded a second-half penalty for a poor foul on Diaz.
Kyle Walker - 6.5/10
Walker looked bang average in this match as he struggled to keep up pace with the proceedings. He won eight duels but was dispossessed 11 times.
Ruben Dias - 6.5/10
Dias won just one duel at the back, but made six clearances, one block and one tackle in a decent performance for the visitors.
Manuel Akanji - 6.5/10
Akanji had a subpar game as well, and was also booked for a foul late in the first half.
Nathan Ake - 7/10
Ake won five duels in defence, also making four tackles, two interceptions, one clearance and one block. He also made one heroic last-man tackle.
Bernardo Silva - 7/10
Bernardo had a good game on a personal level. He passed the ball with 88% accuracy, including one key pass. He also won six duels and completed two dribbles past opponents.
Ilkay Gundogan - 6.5/10
The German midfielder had a decent game in the middle of the park for Manchester City. He won one duel and made one interception.
Rico Lewis - 7/10
Lewis passed the ball with 86% accuracy on the right flank but was unable to play a single key pass or cross. He did win four duels, though, making one clearance and one interception.
Phil Foden - 6/10
Foden passed the ball with 88% accuracy, including one key pass. However, he was poor off the ball, winning just one of eight duels. He was also dispossessed 12 times.
Matheus Nunes - 6/10
Nunes had a poor game for the Citzyzens on the left flank as he failed to play a single key pass or attempt a single shot. He also won just one of eight duels.
Erling Haaland - 6.5/10
Haaland managed just one shot on target for Manchester City in the entire match as he was effectively marked out of the game by Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez.
Substitutes
Jeremy Doku - 7/10
Doku replaced Nunes and put in an energetic performance.
Savinho - 6.5/10
He replaced Gundogan and put in an average performance to finish the game.
Jack Grealish - 6.5/10
He replaced Lewis on the right flank and could not perform.
Kevin De Bruyne - 6.5/10
He replaced Foden in the second half but could not help his team.