The defending champions may have been without Erling Haaland, but they still had enough firepower to see off the Reds at the Etihad Stadium
Manchester City shrugged off the absence of Erling Haaland through injury as they kept up the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal with a 4-1 win over Liverpool on Saturday.
City did fall behind to Mohamed Salah's strike, but went into the break level as Julian Alvarez – the man chosen to replace Haaland – fired home from Jack Grealish's cross.
Kevin De Bruyne then finished off a fine move to give City the lead inside the first minute of the second half, before Ilkay Gundogan and Grealish netted to seal a deserved win for the defending champions.
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GOAL rates City's players from the Etihad Stadium…
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Ederson (6/10):
Could do nothing about Salah's opener. Distribution excellent, as always.
John Stones (6/10):
Played in midfield as much as right-back, and was solid in both roles.
Ruben Dias (6/10):
Perhaps left too much space between himself and Akanji for Salah's strike, but otherwise decent enough.
Manuel Akanji (6/10):
His physicality made it a struggle for Liverpool to create outside of counter-attacks.
Nathan Ake (7/10):
Another performance to illustrate how he has been City's best defender this season.
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Kevin De Bruyne (7/10):
Showed his full array of passes yet again. Popped up with the important second goal.
Rodri (5/10):
Caught too far forward at times which allowed Liverpool to counter effectively. Perhaps fortunate not to be sent off in the first half.
Ilkay Gundogan (7/10):
Workmanlike, while his weight of pass is superb. Gave City control with a calm finish for the third.
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Riyad Mahrez (7/10):
Excellent assist for De Bruyne's goal and also played a part in Gundogan's strike as he caused Robertson plenty of problems.
Julian Alvarez (9/10):
Played a hand in each of the first three goals as he stepped in for the injured Haaland. Already looks a £14m bargain even if he doesn't start every week.
Jack Grealish (9/10):
Brilliant tracking back stopped Salah from setting up Jota to make it 2-0, before moments later he assisted Alvarez's equaliser. Got his deserved goal to seal victory inside the final 20 minutes.
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Bernardo Silva (N/A):
Replaced Rodri late on.
Cole Palmer (N/A):
On for Grealish in the closing stages.
Pep Guardiola (7/10):
Decision to push Stones centrally threatened to give Liverpool the space they needed to counter-attack, but figured out a way to stop the Reds' attackers before his own forwards stepped up in the second half.