Premier League reaction: Liverpool beat Man City 2-0 to go nine points clear
'Maybe I deserve to be sacked' - Guardiola on Liverpool chants
Analysis & stats: Opta Supercomputer, Liverpool stats, City stats
Premier League team news: Eze available, Fullkrug, Tuanzebe
Phil McNulty Q&A - on Man City, Guardiola, Villa, Zubimendi, Chelsea
As mentioned, Chelsea were Sunday's other big winners, in terms of the Premier League title race.
While the Opta Supercomputer, external may have given them next-to-no chance of winning the title, Chelsea now have a 39.9% chance of finishing fourth...
Liverpool 2-0 Man City
Michael Brown
Former Manchester City midfielder on Football Daily
Image source, Getty ImagesIt has been done before but in their [Manchester City's] current form it would take something really special to turn it around.
Pep Guardiola went over to the supporters at the end of the game to say sorry and he put his hands up to say six Premier League titles. To me that looked like an apology to say "I have done that for you but this one is too far".
Liverpool 2-0 Man City
On the title race, Nigel Reo-Coker said on Football Daily: "It would have to turn into one of the greatest-ever comeback title races in history for City to now win the league this season.
"I understand that you don't write Guardiola off, or the players because of who they are, but when you dissect it there are problems. Defensively they are the worst I have ever seen them and in the midfield it is evident just how important Rodri is.
"They are struggling in midfield regardless of what combination they put in there of top players. It is just not working.
"There are too many problems to say they are still in the title race."
So the question on everyone's lips is who can stop Liverpool winning their first Premier League title since 2019/20?
One school of thought is that fixture congestion could be manager Arne Slot's biggest concern.
Liverpool face a punishing schedule in December, with eight more games to play, six away from home, in three different competitions:
Only twice before has a team been nine or more points clear at the top of the Premier League table after 13 games, Manchester United in 1993-94 and Chelsea in 2005-06, and both those sides won the title.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesPhil McNulty Q&A
Jez, Cheltenham. Hi Phil. Is there a simple explanation for Man City’s rapid fall from the top or is it, as I see it, a lot of factors all coming together at the same time?
Hi, Jez. I’m in your camp here. I think it is a combination of factors.
I think it is a squad that has been allowed to grow too old together, some flawed work in the markets in recent times when they simply have not strengthened with the right quality and allowed players such as Cole Palmer to leave, as well as Julian Alvarez, who has not been replaced.
The likes of Kalvin Phillips and Matheus Nunes have not delivered and – yes, Guardiola has every right to mention it even though he won’t get any sympathy from outside – they have had a lot of crucial injuries, Rodri being the most damaging one.
Image source, Getty ImagesRodri has not played since September after suffering a knee injury while playing against Arsenal
Opta's supercomputer, external makes Liverpool overwhelming favourites to win the league at 85.1%.
They have Manchester City at 4.4% and Arsenal at 9.8%, while third-placed Chelsea are given a 0.8% chance.
So who can catch Liverpool?
As mentioned, Chelsea moved up above Manchester City following Sunday's results.
We will be having a look at their win over Aston Villa next, as well as continuing Phil McNulty's Q&A...
Round 13 of fixtures is complete and at the beginning of the season not many would have predicted Manchester City's absence from the top four.
They occupy fifth place at present, with Brighton edging them out of the top four on goal difference.
Chelsea have made a good start to life under Enzo Maresca and are third but level on points with Arsenal in second.
After that win, Liverpool extended their cushion at the top to nine points.
Liverpool 2-0 Man City
John Murray
BBC Radio 5 Live chief football correspondent
Image source, Getty ImagesEven by Liverpool's high standards, this morning they are basking in the glory of a pair of great Anfield wins in the space of five days that can be placed against any in their history.
They have downed European and Spanish champions Real Madrid, followed by Manchester City - defending Premier League and world club champions.
Both were 2-0 wins that could both have been significantly more emphatic.
Their record is comparable to the season Jurgen Klopp's team won the title, when they won 12 and drew one of their first 13 league matches and went on to finish a mammoth 18 points clear of Manchester City.
This campaign it's W11 D1 L1. What is remarkable is this is being done in Arne Slot's first months in the job. He is nothing like the big personality of Klopp, but it looks like post-Klopp it is the understated way of Slot that was precisely what Liverpool needed.
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Jamie Carragher is rapidly losing the Liverpool fans with his statements on Salah. The club retained legends like Gerrard long past their prime, and Salah is still the best attacker in the league. I think Carra may be a bit jealous the fans love Salah more than him.
Kevin
Read what Carragher said here.
Phil McNulty Q&A
Olly: Where does Phil think Manchester City will finish this season? Are they now finding themselves in a battle for the top four, let alone the title?
Phil: Hi Olly, remarkable as it sounds I think they are. You almost have to rub your eyes when you see them outside that top four in the table. I still think Manchester City will finish in the top four. I tipped them for the title pre-season but think that has gone now.
I can't see them pulling 11 points back on Liverpool. They still have great quality, though, and I can see Liverpool and Arsenal as the top two with City battling alongside Chelsea and, maybe, Spurs for the top four.
I should apologise to Brighton fans here as they currently lie fourth. I think they will have a really good season once more but do not see them finishing in the top four. Domestically, City's fight now is to be in the top four and I expect them to do that.
Image source, Getty ImagesLiverpool 2-0 Man City
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City's Ruben Dias told Sky Sports this is part of the club's legacy and they will keep building.
The defender said: "Nottingham Forest is all that is on our mind and we want to win - that is how you break it. Today I saw little things that will help us move forward.
"This is just part of our legacy. We have won so much and still we are where we are and this happens. It is more about building and building the legacy. These tough moments will never stop coming in football. Football is the perfect example of life, sometimes life seems easy but it slaps you in the face and football is the perfect example of that.
"That is why we win again and again. We have been able to be versatile, adapt and keep on moving forward and thinking one game at a time. That is what we need to get back to. This is all about our legacy, building that and believing in it.
"We will see where we are at the end of the season. Now is just Nottingham Forest, Nottingham Forest, Nottingham Forest."
Liverpool 2-0 Man City
Image source, Getty ImagesBoth Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk are out of contract this summer. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has been having his say on the situation.
"This idea and this saying of 'give him [Salah] what he wants'. This club is not built on giving people what they want," he told Sky Sports.
"That's where the success of the club has come from - being ahead of the game, buying Mo Salah for £40m when nobody else in the Premier League even looked at him because Liverpool were ahead of the game in terms of the data.
"Liverpool - keep doing what you're doing. Don't give somebody a three or four-year deal if you normally give someone an extra year."
Phil McNulty Q&A
NMP: Do you think City might be paying a price for not renewing an ageing squad quicker? Their last few transfer windows have been uneventful, Savinho hasn't taken the game by storm, and Gundogan is clearly not what he once was. We've seen it happen to other successful squads. Do they need a big overhaul?
Phil: I think they are. The squad has been allowed to grow too old together and even the greatest players and teams need renewal, especially after having so many miles in their legs over so many years. And they are only human, sometimes it is just hard to have the same thirst for success every season after winning so many trophies.
I do agree the transfer strategy has been flawed. City may now regret not standing firm when Cole Palmer wanted to leave, while Julian Alvarez was allowed to go without a replacement being signed.
And then you look at incomings. Kalvin Phillips was a failure while Matheus Nunes simply has not done it yet.
I bow to no-one in my admiration for Ilkay Gundogan, who was instrumental in so many triumphs at Manchester City, but his return from Barcelona looks like a season too far for the 34-year-old.
I think City will learn the lessons and be very active to rebuild the team, first in January and then more significantly next summer to overhaul the side.
Image source, Getty ImagesLiverpool 2-0 Man City
Image source, Getty ImagesManchester City have not failed to reach the Champions League since 2010-11 and former defender Micah Richards called the current situation "bleak".
"I'm not going to rule City out completely because football can be like that, but I can't see them catching Liverpool," he admitted.
Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane said: "If you would've said at the start of the season Liverpool would be where they are now you wouldn't believe them, you'd think they need locking up."
Phil McNulty Q&A
Adam Bateman: What more has to happen for Pep Guardiola to be sacked?
Phil: Morning Adam. Maybe losing his next 40 games?
Let's be realistic here. Manchester City are not going to sack the greatest coach of the modern era. He will decide when he leaves Etihad Stadium and he's clearly not going anywhere yet as he has just signed a new two-year contract.
Guardiola has brought unprecedented success to Manchester City and will be entrusted to build what he will hope is the next great side.
Image source, Getty ImagesLiverpool fans have their say on new manager Arne Slot
It has been quite the start to life under Arne Slot for Liverpool.
The Reds are now nine points clear at the top of the Premier League and two points clear at the top of the Champions League table after winning all five of their games so far.
Liverpool 2-0 Man City
Image source, Getty ImagesAfter the game, Liverpool goalscorer Mo Salah told Sky Sports his contract situation with the club is "in his head".
Salah's deal with the club is set to expire at the end of the season and he is yet to agree fresh terms.
"Honestly, it's in my head," he said.
"Until now, this is the last City game I will play for Liverpool, so I was just going to enjoy it.
"The atmosphere was incredible so I will enjoy every second here. Hopefully we just win the league and we will see what will happen."
Liverpool 2-0 Man City
Image source, Getty ImagesEx-Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown says Liverpool had a strong "all-round performance" against his former club, but it was their man-to-man press that impressed him the most.
"Liverpool started fantastic," Brown told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "Players were dropping in to play with great intensity, the midfielders were making great runs and trying to get shots away and the defensive pairing were winning duels.
"They then waited and defended as City grew back into the game, and they did that really well as a team.
"I really like the way they press and are hungry out of possession. You have to give them the credit for an all-round good performance.
"I have been really impressed with Arne Slot's tenure so far."
