Liverpool Extends Lead with Victory Over Haaland-less Manchester City
Manchester City faced Liverpool in a crucial Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, with the absence of star striker Erling Haaland proving pivotal. Haaland, who had been carrying a knock, was left out of the squad entirely, leaving Omar Marmoush to lead the line for Pep Guardiola’s side. Guardiola made four changes to his starting lineup, with Rico Lewis, Nathan Ake, Kevin De Bruyne, and Jeremy Doku coming in, while Ruben Dias, Ilkay Gundogan, and Bernardo Silva were benched. De Bruyne captained the side in Haaland’s absence.
Liverpool, meanwhile, made just one change to their lineup, with Luis Diaz replacing Diogo Jota in attack. The Reds entered the match with the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the table, and they seized the initiative early. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in the 14th minute, capitalising on a corner to fire home via a deflection off Nathan Ake. Salah then turned provider, setting up Dominik Szoboszlai for Liverpool’s second goal in the 37th minute.
Despite City’s efforts, including a disallowed goal from Marmoush and a series of attempts from Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden, they struggled to break down Liverpool’s defence. The absence of Haaland was keenly felt, as City lacked the cutting edge needed to mount a comeback. Liverpool’s disciplined performance saw them secure a 2-0 victory, extending their lead at the top of the table to 11 points.
The result marked a significant step forward in Liverpool’s title charge, while City’s defeat highlighted their struggles this season. Guardiola’s side, now 20 points behind Liverpool, face an uphill battle to secure Champions League qualification. For Liverpool, the win reinforced their status as title favourites, with Salah once again proving decisive in a high-stakes encounter.
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