Even though times have been difficult for Manchester City under Pep Guardiola in the past, there has always been a feeling that they will get there; it will be okay. Almost as much as there was little dramatic tension around them, just inevitability. Not now.

The city machine looks broken, the certainties that have driven it for so long are missing, the control is gone. They got exactly what they deserved here – another defeat, their sixth in seven games in all competitions, and it’s very hard to see them defending their Premier League title.

The enthusiastic Liverpool crowd informed Guardiola that he would be sacked in the morning, prompting him to raise six figures in their direction, one for each of his league titles in England. It was a single act of defiance from someone wearing the club crest on their chest.

Liverpool was everything City was not; oppressive at the back, physical in every position, skilled on the ball, threatening in front of goal. Cody Gakpo’s opener was hardly a reward for early dominance, but there would never be an occasion when Arne Slot’s side did anything other than extend their lead over second-placed Arsenal to nine points. And they have 11 points between themselves and City, who are in fifth place.

Guardiola had admitted that his players were suffering just as much as he was and there is no doubt that this is the biggest crisis of his tenure at City. At least there is some danger now. Mohamed Salah secured Liverpool the points with a penalty. They can lose the title.

City were 2-1 or longer ahead of every bookmaker in England to win, the first time they were not favorites for a league game since Guardiola’s first season at the club in 2016/17. City as a brave outsider? It played a role, as did Guardiola’s record at Anfield. Only once in nine previous visits in all competitions has his City team been able to enjoy a victory – and that was when the pitch was empty for league play in the 2020/21 pandemic season.

It was rocking here, the home crowd felt blood and tasted it after 12 minutes. No one could say that the breakthrough was not advertised; Shortly before, Virgil van Dijk had hit the far post with a powerful header. Stefan Ortega, who Guardiola favored in the City goal, appeared to have his fingertips on the ball.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was the architect of the opening game, pushing into midfield to fire a diagonal shot inside to the right for Salah, who had plenty of space to run into. City were exposed – and not for the last time in this area. Manuel Akanji got past but Salah cut inside and sent in a lovely low cross. Less pleasant from City’s perspective was how Kyle Walker stopped and watched as Gakpo attacked the far post and shot the ball into the goal.

It was the symbol of City’s terrible start and there were others: bad passes, just a basic timidity. Guardiola’s nervousness was evident even before kick-off. His players were nervous. It took the 25th minute for City to string together a few passes in Liverpool’s half and even then they ran back to Ortega with the red jerseys chasing them at every turn.

Liverpool could have been further ahead at this point because Van Dijk missed the goal from Alexis Mac Allister’s corner. The captain was free; he seemed sure to score. Salah had won the corner after a race with Nathan Aké following another lovely pass from Alexander-Arnold; Salah had the City left-back for pace, Aké just managed to get into the game.

The excellent Dominik Szoboszlai, who had more than justified his selection ahead of Curtis Jones, had worked on Ortega with a sharp shot in the early stages and then came the moment when Liverpool won the ball high up and threatened through Luis Díaz and Alexander-Arnold became. Gakpo entered and raised.

City steadied themselves in the final 20 minutes of the first half, although it was frightening how limited their threat was, particularly on the wings. They wanted extra touches and Liverpool were in no mood to give them time. City’s only flicker before the break came in the 39th minute when Rico Lewis shot past the far post after a pass from Erling Haaland. Shortly before, Alexander-Arnold had only missed the goal by a few centimeters after a corner flew past him.

Liverpool had further chances for the second half after the restart when Matheus Nunes saved a save from Gakpo and Van Dijk shot a header just over the goal from the resulting corner. A thought for City – maybe someone tag the big man? Salah also sank a spectacular one-on-one with Ortega and shot high after Bernardo Silva played a back pass to Akanji with instructions to Royal Liverpool Hospital.

City got the ball more in the second third. They tried to practice their short passing game. It was an exercise in restoring confidence and exercising control. Jérémy Doku made the difference when Guardiola substituted him for Nunes on the left wing. And yet where were the chances?

Liverpool continued to look like the more dangerous team on the counter-attack, especially Salah, and if their priority in the closing stages was to defend confidently, another goal wouldn’t hurt. It came when Rúben Dias let up and Walker took a heavy touch, allowing Díaz to rob him and sprint away. When Ortega arrived late to tackle him, it was obviously a penalty, the only question was whether the goalkeeper faced criticism. He didn’t, Salah’s penalty converted penalty enough.

Van Dijk had time to make a mistake, giving City substitute Kevin De Bruyne a one-on-one against the underused Caoimhín Kelleher. The goalkeeper blocked. There is no way out of the torment for City.