Manchester City celebrated Pep Guardiola’s 1,000th game in management with a commanding 3-0 victory over Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, closing the gap at the top of the Premier League to just four points behind Arsenal.
City, who have been chasing consistency in recent weeks, delivered a performance that blended precision with dominance. Erling Haaland opened the scoring with his 99th Premier League goal, finishing off a sublime 19-pass sequence that encapsulated Guardiola’s footballing philosophy. Nico Gonzalez doubled the advantage after a deflected strike wrong-footed Alisson Becker, while Jeremy Doku sealed the result with an assured finish midway through the second half.
The win reinforced City’s title credentials and deepened Liverpool’s struggles, with Arne Slot’s side now suffering five defeats in their last six league outings. Liverpool had a Virgil van Dijk equaliser ruled out for offside in the first half—a moment that shifted the contest’s momentum decisively in City’s favour.
Guardiola, marking a personal milestone, was visibly emotional after the final whistle. “I just want to say thank you to the players and staff for this gift. I’m proud to do it here in Manchester,” he said, applauding fans as the Etihad roared in celebration.
For Liverpool, the defeat exposed the ongoing challenges in adapting to Slot’s tactical system. Defensive lapses and lack of intensity in midfield have left them languishing in eighth place—far off their early-season rhythm. The result also heightened pressure on the Dutch manager ahead of the international break.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Aston Villa, Brentford, and Nottingham Forest registered crucial victories, while Crystal Palace and Brighton shared the points in South London.
At Villa Park, Aston Villa delivered their best attacking display of the season with a 4-0 thrashing of Bournemouth. Emiliano Buendía opened the scoring with a spectacular free-kick, followed by goals from Amadou Onana, Ross Barkley, and Donyell Malen. Emiliano Martínez added to the drama by saving Antoine Semenyo’s penalty. Unai Emery’s men have now won four consecutive home matches, moving up to sixth—level on points with Liverpool.
Over in West London, Brentford overturned an early deficit to beat Newcastle United 3-1. Harvey Barnes had given Newcastle the lead, but Kevin Schade’s equaliser and a late brace from Igor Thiago secured the points for the Bees. The victory lifted Brentford into mid-table, while Newcastle continued their winless away streak stretching back to April.
In Nottingham, Sean Dyche earned his first win as Forest manager as his side came from behind to defeat Leeds United 3-1. Lukas Nmecha’s opener was cancelled out by goals from Ibrahim Sangaré, Morgan Gibbs-White, and a late penalty from Elliott Anderson. The triumph narrowed the gap to Premier League safety to just two points, offering hope amid a difficult season.
At Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace and Brighton played out a tense goalless draw. VAR overturned a late Brighton penalty appeal, while Palace squandered late opportunities through Daichi Kamada and Yeremy Pino. Both teams remain comfortably in mid-table heading into the break, leaving the title race, European spots, and relegation battle finely poised as the season enters its decisive phase.
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