Liverpool skips 11 points clear of Man City as Pep’s shocking run continues

Liverpool has the Premier League title at its mercy after just 13 matches of the 2024/25 season.

The Reds, under Arne Slot, have skipped 11 points clear of Manchester City after a 2-0 win over Pep Guardiola’s four-in-a-row champions at Anfield overnight.

The Merseyside giants find themselves with a record of 11 wins, one draw and one loss on 34 points, nine to the good of the rest of the competition with Arsenal and Chelsea equal second on 25 points.

Cody Gakpo opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a close-range back-post finish made possible by a sublime Mo Salah pass.

The star Egyptian turned from creator to scorer in the 78th minute when he converted from the penalty spot after Luis Diaz had been felled by City keeper Stefan Ortega. Salah had earlier scuffed a one-on-one chance with the German.

Salah now has 10 league goals for the season. Only City striker Erling Haaland with 12 has more.

The victory continued the remarkable run under first-year Liverpool boss Slot who also has the club sitting atop the UEFA Champions League with a perfect five from five.

However, Slot knows the challenges will continue to come.

“I saw Arsenal playing yesterday, Chelsea today - and City, they lose today but I’m 100 per cent sure they will compete again this season,” said the Dutchman.

“It’s a long way to go, but it’s a good position to have.”

On the flip side, it was a fourth straight league defeat for Guardiola’s hapless City side who are winless in their last seven in all competitions.

Despite the defeat, Guardiola could not resist from firing back at Liverpool fans who chanted “you’re getting sacked in the morning”. The Spaniard lifted six fingers to denote the six Premier League titles City have claimed during his tenure.

“All the stadiums want to sack me,” he said post-match.

“It started at Brighton! Maybe they are right with the results we've been having. Maybe I am still in a job because I won six Premier League titles.

“I didn't expect that at Anfield. They didn't do it at 1-0, but at 2-0. Maybe they should have sung it in the past.

“I didn't expect it from the people from Liverpool but it's fine, it's part of the game, and I understand completely.

“We've had incredible battles together. I have a respect for them.”

In other Premier League matches on Sunday, Chelsea saw off Aston Villa 3-0 thanks to goals from Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer.

Enzo Maresca’s Blues have strung together some solid form, unbeaten in their last five in the league, and are one of the clear challengers to the tearaway Reds.

Manchester United slipped into ninth with a 4-0 Old Trafford win over Everton courtesy of doubles from both Marcus Rashford and Josh Zirkzee.

And Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Fulham.