No one was backing the visitors to win at Anfield, and they were proven right as they barely put up a fight in a fourth league defeat in a row
Manchester City have had many miserable trips to Anfield, but Sunday's has to rank among their worst as they sank to a 2-0 defeat against Liverpool which felt inevitable from the first whistle.
The Premier League champions made the short trip to Merseyside with their confidence on the floor and fell behind in the 12th minute when Cody Gakpo took advantage of a wonderful cross from Mohamed Salah and a huge lapse in concentration from Kyle Walker.
City could have been four goals down at half-time, but they got a grip on the play in the second half. Still, they were given a huge let off by Salah before Walker played his part in a team effort in car-crash defending which led to Liverpool winning a penalty.
Salah scored it to clinch a victory that left City 11 points behind their rivals in the title race, a gap that even the most optimistic of Blues will know is too big to make up.
GOAL rates City's players from Anfield…
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Stefan Ortega (5/10):
Got his first league start in the biggest game of the season and looked more solid than Ederson until he mistimed his challenge on Diaz.
Kyle Walker (3/10):
Asleep at back post when Gakpo scored and had a tough first half. Rounded off another miserable day with his howler of a clearance in build-up to the penalty.
Ruben Dias (5/10):
His return couldn't lift the defence and despite making some good blocks, he succumbed to the virus himself with his role in the litany of errors leading to the penalty.
Manuel Akanji (4/10):
Not alert enough in or out of possession. Two giveaways led to big Liverpool chances while he gave Salah too much respect for the opening goal.
Nathan Ake (5/10):
Made a good tackle on Salah and gave City a little more security down the left hand side than Gvardiol.
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Bernardo Silva (5/10):
Showed signs of life in the second half but overall was underwhelming.
Ilkay Gundogan (4/10):
Overwhelmed yet again playing a holding role he's never been suited to.
Phil Foden (5/10):
Made no noticeable contribution in attack.
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Rico Lewis (5/10):
Worked hard to try and keep City in the game, although he missed a huge chance to equalise, unwisely shooting with the outside of his foot.
Erling Haaland (4/10):
Got eaten alive by Van Dijk and barely got a look in.
Matheus Nunes (6/10):
Worked hard defensively to try and keep the score dignified. Booked for chopping down Alexander-Arnold and made an excellent tackle on Gakpo.
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Jeremy Doku (6/10):
Looked most likely to create something.
Savinho (5/10):
Gave City more spark but struggled to add substance to his style.
Jack Grealish (5/10):
Created a couple of nice moves that came to nothing.
Kevin De Bruyne (5/10):
Should have done better after Van Dijk gifted him a shot.
Pep Guardiola (4/10):
Made two big calls by leaving out Ederson and Gvardiol and his tactics screamed damage limitation.