Liverpool Extends Premier League Lead with Victory Over Manchester City

2025-03-02

Liverpool tightened their grip on the Premier League title race with a commanding 2-0 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, extending their lead at the top of the table to 11 points. Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai were the heroes for the Reds, with Salah scoring the opener and setting up Szoboszlai for the second in a first-half masterclass.

Salah broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, capitalising on a clever corner routine. Alex Mac Allister’s delivery found Szoboszlai, who laid it off for Salah to fire home via a deflection off Nathan Aké. The Egyptian then turned provider eight minutes before half-time, delivering a precise pass for Szoboszlai to slot past Ederson and double Liverpool’s advantage.

The second half saw Liverpool defend resolutely, with Virgil van Dijk marshalling the backline superbly. City, despite their efforts, struggled to break down a disciplined Liverpool side, with Pep Guardiola’s men unable to recover from their early setbacks. The result leaves City in fourth place, 20 points behind Liverpool, and facing an uphill battle to secure Champions League qualification.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot praised his team’s performance, particularly their defensive resilience in the second half. He acknowledged the significance of winning at the Etihad, a ground where Liverpool have historically struggled. Meanwhile, Guardiola admitted his side lacked the cutting edge to turn their possession into meaningful chances, with injuries to key players like Erling Haaland and Rodri further compounding their woes.

The victory puts Liverpool in a commanding position to secure their 20th English league title, with just 11 games remaining. For City, it marks a watershed moment in their season, as they now shift focus to salvaging a top-four finish and FA Cup success.