The 23rd February is a date that Liverpool fans may well remember for a while to come.
It’s the day that Arne Slot’s side virtually grabbed the Premier League title after a swing of results that has almost made their lead unassailable.
Supporters will no doubt have worried after dropping points to Everton and Aston Villa this month but that has mattered not amid a spate of injuries in north London for Arsenal.
It’s those injuries that have proved pivotal. Mikel Merino was able to resuscitate hopes of Arsenal winning the league just over a week ago but they came unstuck against West Ham on Saturday, losing 1-0 and potentially surrendering the title too.
So, it was over to the Etihad on Sunday where, of course, Liverpool defeated Manchester City with relative ease.
Arteta’s men do have a game in hand but the gap is now 11 points. Something remarkable would have to happen for the Reds to lose things now.
How Liverpool defeated Manchester City
On Sunday Slot’s men visited a ground in which they hadn’t won since Jurgen Klopp’s first visit back in November 2015.
Such has been Pep Guardiola’s dominance of English football over the last decade that very few teams have gone to the sky-blue side of Manchester and secured a victory.
Alas, the winds of change have swept through the north west and City are no longer high and mighty.
Any chances of Pep’s side winning the Premier League have been done and dusted for a while now with Liverpool the undoubted favourites. They showed as much on Sunday evening.
The inevitable Mohamed Salah was the man once again, scoring the opener after a delicious corner routine saw the forward find the net. Omar Marmoush would have been desperate to show that there’s a new Egyptian in town but he was overshadowed by his fellow countryman. That was hardly a surprise.
Dominik Szoboszlai also starred in a false 9 role. Cody Gakpo wasn’t deemed fit enough which allowed the Hungarian to flourish in a new role, registering the assist for Salah’s goal, finding the net himself and having another assist chalked off after being adjudged offside in the build-up to Curtis Jones’ disallowed goal.
So, it was all sunshine and rainbows, right?
Not for one player in red who continues to dazzle and frustrate in equal measure.
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Liverpool star broke records against Man City
Last time the Reds faced off against City at the tail end of 2024, a certain Trent Alexander-Arnold was on the severe end of media criticism for his performance, being dribbled past six times. That was the most of any player in the top flight this term.
Well, that was until this weekend when Alexander-Arnold broke his own record, being dribbled past a staggering eight times in the first half alone.
Trent eventually left the pitch in the 89th minute having been run ragged by Jeremy Doku and Co down Liverpool’s right flank, being dribbled past on 12 occasions.
It’s safe to say this wasn’t the finest day at the office for the right-back who, despite his goal against Aston Villa last midweek, is proving why it might just be best to sanction his exit this summer.
v Man City
Dribbled past 12x
v Aston Villa
50% duels won
v Wolves
2 errors leading to shot
v B’mouth
2 errors leading to shot
v Ipswich
Dribbled past 1x
v Brentford
Dribbled past 0x
v Forest
Dribbled past 2x
v Man Utd
Won 0/5 duels
Let’s set things straight – the full-back is one of the most technically gifted players in English football but his defending has long left something to be desired.
Yesterday’s clash against the Citizens proved exactly that with the Englishman making just two tackles and losing a ridiculous haul of 12 duels from 15 contests. It was hardly a surprise, therefore, that GOAL saw his performance worthy of just a 3/10 rating.
Minutes played
89
Touches
67
Accurate passes
40/56 (71%)
Key passes
0
Shots
0
Accurate long balls
8/16
Fouls
0
Possession lost
17x
Duels won
3/15
Dribbled past
12x
Tackles
2
Interceptions
0
This performance was no great shock if we’re being brutally honest, but it only further supported the fact that perhaps Conor Bradley is the future.
The Northern Irishman may not be as creative but he’s still a rampaging defender and combines that with more astuteness at the back. Remember that barnstorming tackle on Kylian Mbappe? Despite incessant links to Madrid, Trent could only dream of a moment like that.
Fans would no doubt be gutted to lose a homegrown talent, someone who should be the face of the squad but the Liverpudlian’s flaws don’t appear to be going away and in the eyes of Slot, he may well be expendable.
If Alexander-Arnold’s performance was a one-off, then you could excuse a bad evening but this has become a common theme now. It may well be time for him to move on from Anfield if a new deal cannot be agreed.
As good as Salah: 8/10 Liverpool star may have just won Slot the title
Liverpool took a huge stride towards the Premier League title with a 2-0 win over Manchester City.
ByEthan LambFeb 23, 2025
