Guardiola marks 1,000th game with statement win as city crush Liverpool 3-0

Pep Guardiola celebrated his 1,000th match as a manager with a commanding 3-0 victory over old rivals Liverpool, as Manchester City delivered a dominant display at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Erling Haaland was once again on target, opening the scoring with his 99th Premier League goal after missing an earlier penalty.

In a match reported by ESPN, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk had an equalizer controversially ruled out, and the visitors struggled to keep pace with the champions on a rain-soaked afternoon. City doubled their advantage before halftime through a deflected Nico González strike, before Jérémy Doku—brilliant throughout—added a sublime third on his 100th appearance for the club.

The result lifted City back up to second in the Premier League table, four points behind leaders Arsenal, while Liverpool were left to reflect on another setback.

Arne Slot’s side had appeared to recover from their recent slump with back-to-back wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid, but Sunday’s defeat was their fifth in six league outings, leaving them eight points adrift of the Gunners.

Arsenal’s dropped points on Saturday offered City a chance to close the gap, and Guardiola’s men seized it. Liverpool, who could have moved up to second with a win, never found their rhythm.

Conor Bradley, who had impressed against Vinícius Júnior in midweek, endured a torrid afternoon against Doku. The Belgian winger was electric, almost setting up Phil Foden early on and later central to the game’s first major talking point.

After bursting past two defenders in the ninth minute, Doku went down under a challenge from Giorgi Mamardashvili. Though initial replays suggested minimal contact, referee Chris Kavanagh overturned his decision after a VAR review.

Liverpool might have felt justice was served when Mamardashvili saved Haaland’s penalty, but their relief was short-lived.

Doku continued to torment the Reds’ defence, setting up chances for Rayan Cherki and himself before Matheus Nunes swung in a cross from the right in the 29th minute.

Haaland rose above Ibrahima Konaté and powered home a header to make it 1-0.

Liverpool thought they had equalized when Van Dijk’s header found the net from a corner, but the goal was disallowed for offside against Andrew Robertson on the line.

Their frustrations deepened in first-half stoppage time when González’s long-range effort deflected off Van Dijk, wrong-footing Mamardashvili for City’s second.

Doku completed the rout in the second half, capping an afternoon of dominance and sealing a memorable milestone for Guardiola.

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