Player Ratings: Manchester City hammer Liverpool 4-1

Manchester City put their stamp on the Premier League season with an emphatic 4-1 win against defending champions Liverpool at Anfield. The Reds have now lost at Anfield three times in a row in the league for the first time since the 1960’s, while City ended their long-standing winless run away to Liverpool. The Citizens are now 10 clear of the home side with a game in hand, which should in effect all but end their title defense.

Defense

Ederson (GK): Had some nervy moments playing out of the back, but made some good saves. In the end he was far better than his opposite number, who had a shocker. (6.5)

João Cancelo (RB): Continued to prove why he is the best full-back at the club. While it wasn’t his best game, he showed good link-up going forward and largely held Sadio Mané in check. (6.5)

John Stones (CB): An absolutely immense performance, and this time, outshining his partner at the back. He was denied another goal by mere inches, and couldn’t put a foot wrong today. (8)

Rúben Dias (CB): Salah went down easily, but the right decision was made on the penalty he gave away. For all he’s given since arriving, a rare mistake was sure to come, but in the end it didn’t affect the result. (5.5)

Oleksandr Zinchenko (LB): Looked shaky in the first half, getting beaten by Trent Alexander-Arnold for a dangerous cross that became Liverpool’s best chance of the half, but improved massively in the second defensively. (6)

Midfield

Rodri (CDM): He has been incredible during City’s resurgence, and continued the run with an excellent showing both technically and in defense today. (7)

İlkay Gündoğan (CAM): A penalty miss in a crucial moment, but redemption, as City’s leading scorer grabbed a brace to add another chapter to his head-spinning run of form. He is now the league’s top goalscorer since December 15. (8)

Bernardo Silva (CAM): He ran with electricity, pressing Liverpool high and making some mazy runs while driving at the defense. A solid performance for the Portuguese playmaker. (7)

Attack

Riyad Mahrez (RW): Easily the least involved of the front three, but did have some moments of spark. Overall, however, it was a largely anonymous day from the Algerian. (6.5)

Phil Foden (CF): A Man of the Match performance. In the biggest game of the season, he stepped up to the plate with an assist followed up by a wonderful goal to add the fourth. City’s young star was always on the front foot, looking to create, and often triggered much of the danger. (8.5)

Raheem Sterling (LW): Caused a host of problems for the Reds’ defense. He drove at Alexander-Arnold to win the penalty, and then grabbed the third goal to cap an excellent day against his former club. (8)

Next. Liverpool 1-4 Manchester City: One hand on the title. dark

Substitutes

Gabriel Jesus (ST): His frenetic pressure caused the mistake from Alisson leading to City’s winner when the game was hanging in the balance. (7.5)

Player Ratings: Manchester City hammer Liverpool 4-1

By J.C. Gonzalez | Feb 7, 2021

Defense

More from Game Review

Midfield

Attack