Liverpool return to action after a 16 days break and it is set to be their toughest week of the season.
The reds face trips to Chelsea before a visit from Arsenal next weekend. But first they have the small matter of an early kick off away at Man City.
After the reds comprehensive 7-0 win against Man Utd they reverted to type - losing away at Bournemouth before expectedly exiting the Champions League in a 1-0 away loss to Real Madrid.
Man City will be hoping to cut the gap to leaders Arsenal down to 5 points with a win here, but for Liverpool they are already 7 points away from the top four. The reds are 5 points behind 5th placed Newcastle who are on the same number of games.
Despite the difficulties of this season, the reds have already beaten City twice this season. A Community Shield victory in the late summer obviously gave the reds too much confidence in the season ahead, but the reds also collected a decent 1-0 win at Anfield in the Premier League. Disappointly the reds did lose in the League Cup in the first game after the World Cup but Salah has scored in all three so far.
It would seem almost impossible to believe that in this season, the reds could stumble so badly but be capable of beating City three times, wouldn't it? City have looked back to their best in recent weeks with Haaland revving up even further his goalscoring exploits. The reds have been rocked by losing Bajcetic for the rest of the season so the midfield is under even further pressure as it limps towards a hopeful summer rebuilding.
Here is how the game unfolded.
As it happened...
Darwin Nunez hasn't been fully involved in training this past week as he was still recovering from the cut foot injury but is expected to be available for today.
Luis Diaz has stepped up his recovery but will not be involved until next weekend's Arsenal game at the earliest.
Thiago Alcantara remains out and obviously Bajcetic is unavailable for the rest of the season.
Elliott and Henderson are back into the side. Milner and Nunez make way, both on the bench.
Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Elliott, Jota, Salah, Gakpo.
Subs: Kelleher, Gomez, Milner, Firmino, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tsimikas, Nunez, Arthur, Matip.
Guardiola had suggested pre-match that he would risk him, but elected not to.
Ederson, Stones, Dias, Akanji, Ake, Gundogan, Rodri, Majrez, De Bruyne, Grealish, Alvarez.
Subs: Moreno, Walker, Phillips, Laporte, Silva, Gomez, Perrone Rodriguez, Palmer, Lewis.
Having a tough season but only by his standards. Can he add to his 22 goals this season?
Finishing touches ????#MCILIV pic.twitter.com/9eN3dCbK7b
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 1, 2023
Seconds away from kick off now.
Who knows what Liverpool are about to turn up? Hopefully not the usual 12:30pm efforts.
Man City's official flag wavers make their way around the pitch - and with that formality done, the ref gets the game underway!
Here we go!
1' City get the game underway, ball straight back to Ederson who proceeds to fire it straight at Gakpo. They get it away but that could have been a very interesting start.
2' Gundogan down clutching his face. Fabinho brushed it gently. Embarrassing.
He eventually decides to get up and get on with the game.
9' De Bruyne cross into the back post and Gundogan gets his foot on it but Alisson collects.
Grealish has bought his side a couple of free kicks in these opening ten minutes.
11' Rodri shot from the edge of the area. Straight at Alisson.
All Man City at the minute. Huge hole in the Liverpool midfield.
The reds appear to be playing Salah centrally up front with Jota/Gakpo/Elliott behind him.
14' Henderson concedes a free kick. He's had a slow start but not sure that was actually a foul on De Bruyne.
Edge of the area, very dangerous, but Mahrez's effort goes narrowly wide.
MO SALAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
17' Jota holds the ball up, Salah is powering in and BOOM - it's 1-0.
VAR checks but he's onside.
20' Mo Salah gets a yellow card. And it wasn't for taking his shirt off!
He kicks the ball away in frustration after a throw in doesn't go his way.
22' Mahrez with some space at the corner of the area - hits it left footed with power but he doesn't get that on target.
Should have done better.
Goal number 23 of the season for the King of Egypt.pic.twitter.com/ifoTzMBeqx
— Anfield Online (@anfieldonline) April 1, 2023
Salah has scored in all four games against Man City this season.
The lead didn't last long.
28' Alvarez equalises for City moments after a Liverpool breakaway was denied by Jack Grealish.
Lot of passes in the build up. Mahrez, Gundogan, Grealish and a tap in for Alvarez.
33' Rodri collects a booking. Holds Jota back as he is looking to break.
35' Rodri does exactly the same thing again. That should be another yellow? Lucky boy there.
Man City 1-1 Liverpool
An entertaining, lively and at times heated first half.
Liverpool took the lead, City equalised. City edged the chances but Liverpool remain a threat. A draw doesn't really help either team much here.
Celebrated the equaliser in front of the Liverpool subs. Good restraint from the reds.
"I don't know how Tsimikas hasn't pushed him out of the way there!" ????
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 1, 2023
Pep Guardiola didn't hold back in his celebrations in front of the Liverpool players... ????
????️ @rioferdy5 pic.twitter.com/d5v9oS6eiu
Back underway.
46' Liverpool with a real problem once more about not switching on quick enough.
Alvarez sweeps the ball across. Robertson is pointing at Alisson to come out. He doesn't. Ball fired back across and De Bruyne puts it in.
Oh dear.
53' Gundogan makes it 3-1 and Liverpool have effectively raised the white flag in the opening 8 minutes of this second half.
Practically walked it in. No challenges from Liverpool inside the area.
Klopp has given up on this. Salah taken off.
OFF: Elliott, Salah, Jota, Robertson
ON: Oxlade-Chamberlain, Firmino, Nunez, Tsimikas.
74' Liverpool have barely had a kick for ten minutes, and another goal was coming. City make it 4-1 as De Bruyne lays it across for Grealish to put it in.
Humbling defeat this.
82' Gakpo replaced by James Milner.
He's got a lot to do because Liverpool have hardly kicked the ball since the previous four subs were brought on.
83' Rodri replaced by Bernardo Silva.
89' Grealish taken off for Palmer. Standing ovation.
City 4-1 Liverpool
Liverpool turned up for the first half but the second half, wow. Two quick goals scored by City and then Liverpool, and their manager, threw in the towel. Must be one of Liverpool's lowest totals of touches in a half of football.
Really appalling. Big problems on and off the pitch at Anfield.
Top four increasingly unlikely.
