Manchester City Thrash Liverpool in Etihad DerbyManchester City Thrash Liverpool in Etihad Derby In a thrilling and dominant display, Manchester City routed their arch-rivals Liverpool 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. The victory consolidates City’s position at the top of the Premier League table and sends a resounding statement to their title challengers. From the outset, City were in total control of possession and dictated the pace of the game. The home side took the lead in the 21st minute when Ilkay Gundogan slotted home from close range after a pinpoint cross from Kevin De Bruyne. Just before halftime, City doubled their advantage. De Bruyne, who was orchestrating the City attack with ease, whipped in a perfect free-kick that found Raheem Sterling unmarked at the far post. The England international headed home with aplomb. The second half was more of the same, with Liverpool struggling to contain City’s relentless attacking waves. In the 53rd minute, Riyad Mahrez made it 3-0 after collecting a pass from Phil Foden and firing a left-footed shot into the bottom corner. Liverpool had a glimmer of hope when Sadio Mane managed to pull a goal back in the 63rd minute. However, any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished when Bernardo Silva restored City’s three-goal cushion less than two minutes later. The final nail in Liverpool’s coffin came in the 81st minute. De Bruyne, who was enjoying a masterclass performance, curled a sumptuous pass into the path of Foden, who coolly converted from inside the box. The 5-0 scoreline flattered City, who could have added to their tally with greater ruthless on the break. The result, however, is a testament to their sheer dominance and the gulf in class between the two sides on the day. Kevin De Bruyne was named man of the match for his outstanding display. The Belgian international controlled the game with his exceptional passing range, vision, and ability to unlock Liverpool’s defense. The victory extends City’s unbeaten run in all competitions to 12 matches and sends a clear message to their rivals. With their star-studded squad and Pep Guardiola at the helm, Manchester City remain the team to beat in the Premier League and beyond.
