
<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/manchester-city-tv-schedule/">Manchester City</a> hammered <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/liverpool-tv-schedule/">Liverpool</a> 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The result kept their <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a> title hopes alive in emphatic fashion. Pep Guardiola’s side were without the injured Erling Haaland while the visitors had their star striker, Darwin Nunez, on the bench.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WHO ELSE?<br><br>Mo Salah fires Liverpool into the lead over Man City!<br>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/peacock?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Peacock</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MyPLMorning?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MyPLMorning</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MCILIV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MCILIV</a> <a href="https://t.co/kjTuyyHgH8">pic.twitter.com/kjTuyyHgH8</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1642133627965263872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>The hosts fell behind early to a Mohamed Salah goal in the 17<sup>th</sup> minute. The Egyptian finished with aplomb following Diogo Jota’s smart layoff inside the box. However, 10 minutes later Julian Alvarez restored parity. The former River Plate star slotted home following Jack Grealish’s low cross.</p>



<h2>Julian Alvarez was in fine form</h2>



<p>The Argentinian World Cup winner was in terrific form as he dragged the Liverpool defense out of position with deep runs. At times, he was also positioned as a false nine. Erling Haaland’s <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65135789" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">absence</a> made City fans fearful prior to kick-off, but Alvarez quickly showed off his own qualities. </p>



<p>With both sides emerging from the tunnel with the score level at 1-1, the 23-year-old found Riyad Mahrez just seconds after the restart. The latter picked out Kevin De Bruyne with a first-time cross and the Belgian poked the ball past Alisson in the Liverpool goal. Manchester City now held a 2-1 lead.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pep Guardiola on Julián Álvarez: “He&apos;s playing for World Cup champions, Argentina, next to Messi for a reason! Not just the goal, the assist in the second, the third… He was involved in everything. With the ball, so clever. He&apos;s an exceptional player.” <a href="https://twitter.com/btsportfootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@btsportfootball</a> 🗣️🇦🇷 <a href="https://t.co/Y5FPmF6nUB">pic.twitter.com/Y5FPmF6nUB</a></p>— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlbicelesteTalk/status/1642166195330719749?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2>Manchester City were at their very best</h2>



<p>Seven minutes later Ilkay Gundogan made it 3-1 as he kept his composure to first control the ball in a crowded penalty area, then find the net with a tidy finish. Manchester City looked imperious as Liverpool were left without any answers. </p>



<p>The reigning Champions looked to be at their very best as they toyed with Jurgen Klopp’s side for the final 30 minutes of the match. Liverpool just couldn’t match their passing tempo and runs off the ball.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What a start to the second half by Manchester City! 💪<br><br>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/peacock?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Peacock</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MyPLMorning?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MyPLMorning</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MCILIV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MCILIV</a> <a href="https://t.co/UqpQyqbQvX">pic.twitter.com/UqpQyqbQvX</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1642146312639377408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>The Reds made four changes at once with 20 minutes remaining, but hardly got a foot back into the game. The contest was a mismatch from a tactical perspective.  Deploying John Stones in midfield was a suave tactical tweak that enabled De Bruyne to play further forward. </p>



<p>Without the physical dominance of Haaland in the final third, this switch created the conditions for Alvarez to move around and confuse the Liverpool defense.</p>



<p>Jack Grealish, who had arguably his best game in a sky blue jersey, then made it 4-1. He finished off a fine move following some wonderful interplay in the 74th minute. The result means that City reduced the gap to five points with league leaders <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/arsenal-tv-schedule/">Arsenal</a> hosting Leeds later in the day. &nbsp;</p>



<p>Photo Credit: IMAGO / Sportimage</p>


Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side kept the pressure on Arsenal as they secured a 4-1 win over Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium

Manchester City thrash Liverpool to keep title hopes alive


<p>Manchester City beat <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/arsenal-tv-schedule/">Arsenal</a>, 3-1, at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday in one of the more anticipated games of the current <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Premier League</a> campaign. Arsenal entered the match three points ahead of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-city-tv-schedule/">City</a> for the league lead. The two clubs racked up 31 combined victories in just 43 top flight matches so far this season.</p>



<p>Arsenal were the better side in the opening 20 minutes of the match. The hosts had a majority of the possession and had a very good opportunity to open the scoring. Eddie Nketiah sent an open header wide of the post in the 22nd minute after Oleksandr Zinchenko put the ball on a platter. Nevertheless, City struck first.</p>



<h5>Arsenal defenders gave the ball away too easily on the night</h5>



<p>Gunners defender Takehiro Tomiyasu attempted a back pass to goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. The ball, however, was played well short of the keeper and Kevin De Bruyne pounced on the opportunity. While the ball was handed straight to the star midfielder, De Bruyne finished off the goal very well. The Belgian had to lift the ball over an onrushing Ramsdale to put his team ahead.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">MANCHESTER CITY STRIKE FIRST! <br><br>Kevin De Bruyne takes advantage of the bad pass by Tomiyasu and puts it home.<br>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/peacock?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@peacock</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MyPLMorning?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MyPLMorning</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARSMCI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARSMCI</a> <a href="https://t.co/bV5C9naSWW">pic.twitter.com/bV5C9naSWW</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1625947412840820736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>The Gunners were given a penalty 15 minutes later. Anthony Taylor awarded the hosts the spot kick after Ederson clattered into Nketiah, failing to get any of the ball. Bukayo Saka then stepped up to take the shot and <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1625951886284099589" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sent the Brazilian keeper the wrong way</a> to level the score. The goal was the winger’s eighth Premier League goal of the season.</p>



<p>City were then given a penalty of their own in the 57th minute. Gabriel essentially wrestled Erling Haaland down to the ground inside the penalty area. The Arsenal defender was also booked for the tackle. However, the decision was reversed after a VAR intervention. Haaland was offside when he initially received the ball. Gabriel’s yellow card was rescinded as well.</p>



<h2>Grealish puts City on top of Arsenal in Premier League</h2>



<p>Nevertheless, Jack Grealish put the visitors ahead 14 minutes later. Much like the first City goal, Arsenal gave the ball away to start the move. This time, it was Gabriel who gave possession straight to the opposition. Bernardo Silva played in Haaland, who found Ilkay Gundogan at the edge of the box. The German then played a smart pass to a wide open Grealish to finish off the goal.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">JACK GREALISH PUTS THE CHAMPIONS ON TOP!<br><br>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/peacock?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@peacock</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MyPLMorning?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MyPLMorning</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARSMCI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARSMCI</a> <a href="https://t.co/NmswU13scm">pic.twitter.com/NmswU13scm</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1625964890488799247?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Haaland capped off the victory with his league-leading 26th goal in his first Premier League campaign. Perhaps unsurprisingly, De Bruyne fed the Norwegian the ball for the assist. The duo have now linked up six times in England’s top flight during the current campaign. </p>



<p>The top two teams in the Premier League will still meet in the league once more time. City will host the Gunners on April 26th. Arsenal will try to collect three points against City in Premier League play for the first time since 2015.</p>



<p>Also, while City ends the night ahead on the table, Arsenal has played one fewer. That makeup game is against relegation-entrenched Everton on March 1. However, Arsenal’s next game in league play is on the road against Aston Villa. Manchester City looks to retain its new spot at the top when it plays Nottingham Forest. Both games are on Saturday, Feb. 18.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / PA Images</em></p>


Manchester City beat Arsenal in north London to retake the Premier League lead based on goal differential. The Gunners played fewer games.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Jack Grealish"

Leagues: EPL

Manchester City thrash Liverpool to keep title hopes alive

Arsenal

Man City snatch Premier League lead from Arsenal with win