Moments you may not have spotted during Liverpool’s Premier League game at Manchester City on Sunday afternoon
Liverpool took a firm grip on the Premier League summit with a statement win at Manchester City on Sunday afternoon. Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai both scored in the first half as the Reds comfortably held off the threat of the outgoing champions to secure a deserved 2-0 triumph.
Arne Slot’s side have now moved 11 points clear of second-placed Arsenal at the top of the table – albeit having played a game more – with 11 top-flight matches now remaining.
But there was plenty that went unnoticed or under the radar during the 90 minutes at the Etihad…
Salah silenced
With another goal and assist, Salah continued his record-breaking ways at the weekend. And it was enough to prompt an animated conversation with City boss Pep Guardiola in the tunnel after the final whistle.
But the Egyptian wasn’t feeling quite so chatty when he then wandered past waiting journalists in the mixed zone, the area where the press attempt – usually forlornly – to grab a word or two with the players.
“I’d better not speak today!” grinned Salah as he turned down the polite request. Now, about that new contract.
Pep poised
Guardiola was feeling every action as his side failed to break down Liverpool’s resolute defence. And the City boss almost became a little too involved at times.
Standing so close to the touchline that he was practically marking Luis Diaz at one point during the first half, Guardiola was almost wiped out by Rico Lewis after one tussle on the flank.
Meanwhile, the injured Erling Haaland could be spotted head in hands on the bench during the second half as Liverpool cruised to victory. That’s what this Reds side can do to opponents.
Nunez recognised
Liverpool began with precisely zero centre-forwards and ended with the same amount on the pitch as both Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota were left on the bench.
But the former still found himself the subject of attention from Reds supporters after the game when joining the rest of the matchday squad to salute the away end after the final whistle
Fans briefly broke off from chants of potentially winning the league to celebrate the Uruguayan, who responded by patting the club badge and offering a wave. A nice response to what happened at Villa Park last Wednesday.
James all smiles
A big game prompted plenty of names from the past to turn up in the media area. Former Liverpool men Jan Molby, David Thompson and Florent Sinama-Pongolle were in attendance, while among the old City players was Peter Schmeichel, who everyone forgets ended his career at the club from Manchester that aren’t United.
Arsenal were also keeping an eye on things through Freddie Ljungberg, while ex-United defender Jaap Stam was also knocking around.
And straddling the divide between the two combatants was David James, who joined former City favourite Paul Dickov on the home team’s club channel. The beaming smile on the ex-goalkeeper on screen afterwards suggests he didn’t mind too much the Reds had won
