Match reportLiverpool beaten at Manchester City in Premier League

The first half of Sunday’s Premier League game was eventful, with Giorgi Mamardashvili saving an Erling Haaland penalty before the City striker opened the scoring with a 29th-minute header.

It seemed that Virgil van Dijk had cancelled that out with a header of his own, but the goal was ruled out for offside against Andy Robertson and City then went 2-0 up in first-half added time as Nico Gonzalez’s shot from range went in via a deflection.

Liverpool were bright in the early stages of the second half but any hope of a comeback was extinguished by Jeremy Doku’s strike just after the hour.

Team

Arne Slot elected to start with an unchanged line-up following the midweek win over Real Madrid. Alexander Isak returned after injury and was named on the bench.

Liverpool: Mamardashvili, Van Dijk, Konate, Wirtz (Chiesa, 83), Szoboszlai, Mac Allister (Jones, 74), Salah, Bradley (Gomez, 83), Ekitike (Gakpo, 56), Robertson (Kerkez, 56), Gravenberch.

Unused subs: Woodman, Endo, Isak, Ngumoha.

First half

City were handed the chance to take an early lead when a lengthy VAR review determined that Mamardashvili had fouled Doku. Haaland stepped up to take the penalty but was foiled by Mamardashvili, who saved low to his left.

But, after Liverpool’s goalkeeper had made another fine stop to deny Doku, the hosts went ahead when Haaland looped a header into the corner from Matheus Nunes’ cross.

The Reds appeared to have found a quick equaliser as Van Dijk met Mohamed Salah’s corner with a firm header that beat Gianluigi Donnarumma.

However, Robertson was in an offside position and deemed to have been interfering with the City ’keeper, meaning the goal was chalked off.

And Liverpool’s misfortune was compounded in stoppage time as Gonzalez’s hit from range deflected off Van Dijk and left Mamardashvili wrong-footed.

Second half

The Reds made a positive start to the second half and, soon after being brought off the bench, Cody Gakpo missed a big chance to halve the deficit.

A patient move ended with Conor Bradley whipping a low cross to the back post, but Gakpo cleared the crossbar from close range.

From a situation where the scoreline could have been 2-1, moments later it was instead 3-0 when Doku cut inside and curled into the far corner from just outside the area.

Liverpool kept going in search of an unlikely revival, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Salah each going close, but Slot’s team were beaten in their final outing before the November international break.