Manchester City 0 Liverpool 2: City player ratings as Manchester City go down to yet another defeat | OneFootball

Manchester City 0

Liverpool 2 (Cody Gakpo 13′, Mo Salah 78′ P)

Here are the City player ratings as Manchester City slumped to their fourth consecutive Premier League defeat with a 2-nil defeat to Liverpool at Anfield. The major talking point pre-game was the decision to drop Ederson from the starting lineup. Stefan Ortega started in goal, and Ruben Dias returned to the starting lineup, which was positive news for Pep Guardiola’s side.

First half

Unfortunately, when the game kicked off, it was all Liverpool for the opening half hour. Arne Slot’s side went at a wounded Manchester City and the only surprise was they were only 1-nil up after the first 30 minutes. Liverpool’s opener came through Cody Gakpo who tapped in from a yard out after a teasing ball from Mo Salah was played into the box in the 13th minute. After the early Liverpool onslaught, Manchester City grew into the game. But despite having good spells of possession during the closing stages of the first half City failed to create any chance of note. City’s best of the first half fell to Rico Lewis late in the first half but he fired his shot wide from just inside the box.

Second half

The second half saw Manchester City dominate possession and grow into the game. Pep Guardiola’s side grew into the game but still couldn’t create any meaningful chances. Liverpool sat back and looked it hit the world champions on the counter for the majority of the second half. But the game was ended as a contest in the 78th minute. Errors from Ruben Dias and Kyle Walker were seized upon by the hosts, and after a quick break, Stefan Ortega was adjudged to have brought down Luis Diaz in the box. Mo Salah calmly converted the spot kick to end the game as a contest.

Come the final whistle you did get the sense that Manchester City’s run at the top of the Premier League was coming to an end. Pep Guardiola’s side did show character in the second half but they just lacked the cutting edge to make their dominance count. All told Liverpool deserved all three points.

Here are the City player ratings as City’s winless run stretched to seven games. Six of those results being defeats.

City player ratings

Stefan Ortega-6.5/10: Made several crucial saves throughout the game. He was unlucky for the penalty after Ruben Dias and Kyle Walker gave away possession in such a dangerous area of the pitch.

Kyle Walker-3/10: Another poor display from Kyle Walker. He is making too many errors and it does appear that his play is affecting his teammates.

Manuel Akanji-5/10: Akanji toiled away but was guilty of giving away possession too often. He doesn’t look anywhere near fully fit.

Ruben Dias-6/10: It was good to see Dias back on the pitch. He tried to lift his team, but his error led to Liverpool’s second-half penalty. Having said that, he wasn’t poor, and his performance was one positive to take from the game.

Nathan Ake-7.5/10: Manchester City’s man-of-the-match in my opinion. Did all he could at left-back and made several crucial defensive interventions. Looks to be getting back to his best.

Rico Lewis-6/10: Can’t fault the work rate from Lewis who I thought put a shift in. It’s a shame that his more experienced teammates couldn’t match his effort.

Ilkay Gundogan-5/10: He was caught in possession too often in the first half like several of his teammates. Grew into the game after that but not his best performance.

Matheus Nunes-6.5/10: Nunes was probably City’s best player before he was substituted. Tracked back well but didn’t offer much of a threat in possession.

Bernardo Silva-4/10: A poor performance from Bernardo. He looked slow and gave away possession too often and too cheaply.

Phil Foden-4/10:  A poor performance again from Foden. City needed him at his best and he couldn’t get into the game at all.

Erling Haaland-5/10: Haaland toiled away up front but he had no service at all to feed off of. A frustrating afternoon for City’s number 9.

Substitutes

Savinho-5/10: He didn’t feature prominently after coming on as most of City’s attacking play came down their left-hand side.

Jeremy Doku-6.5/10: The Belgian international became City’s most dangerous player after coming on. To his credit he tried to change the game.

Kevin De Bruyne-N/A: Had City’s best chance of game but saw his shot saved. The story for me is why didn’t De the Bruyne come on earlier.

Jack Grestory N/A: Not on long enough to mark. Although he did play a more central role so perhaps that is something for Pep Guardiola to explore.