MAN CITY 1, LIVERPOOL 4
Manchester City were left shell shocked following their hefty home defeat by a reinvigorated Liverpool side under Jurgen Klopp.
It was only the second time City had conceded four goals in a competitive game at the Etihad since they moved to their new home in 2003.
And City had no complaints as they were ruthlessly dismantled by Liverpool who had chances to have won by a heavier margin as City lost the Premier League’s leadership slipping to third place.
City could not cope with Liverpool’s pressing as they defended from the front while the visitors were deadly on the counter attack.
Eliaquim Mangala’s early own goal set the tone for the night while Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmini and Martin Skrtel also found the net.
Sergio Aguero scored a consolation for City on his return from injury, but that was about the only cheer on a depressing night.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini did not disguise his displeasure describing in as a “complete disaster”.
He said: “I am more than angry. It was an unbelievable performance and difficult to understand why we played so badly.
“It was not just one player, but the whole team, both defending and attacking. It was a complete disaster.”
Pellegrini explained that taking off Yaya Toure and Jesus Navas at half time was tactical.
He continued: “It was not just Yaya and Navas. We tried another system to press higher, but it didn’t work and it was not our night.
“We conceded four goals and could have done three or four more. It is difficult to understand.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp described it as a “very satisfying” performance but was sure it was the best since he took over as they had also won at Chelsea.
He said: “I rarely compare games, but it was very good, though not perfect as we could have defended better in the last 10 minutes of the first half when it was 3-0.
“When you win 4-1 against Manchester City, a very good side, it is very good. We deserved it and it was very important, but no more.
“It is important we see development in our game which is why I say we can do better, though our counter attacking was very good.”
Aguero returned after his injury lay off to give City a lift as he teamed up with Raheem Sterling who was playing against the club he left in a £49million deal last summer.
City were without captain Vincent Kompany and striker Wifried Bony through injury while it has been confirmed Samir Nasri faces a six-month lay off.
Liverpool had star strikers Christian Benteke and Daniel Sturridge on the bench to provide plenty of firepower if needed.
There was a poignant playing of the French national anthem, La Marseillias before kick off as the teams mixed the linker arm in arm to pay tribute to the victims of the Paris terrorist attack.
And the fans responded with applause and singing of the anthem while there were a number of French flags on view in the stands.
City fell behind in the eighth minute after a bizarre own goal from Mangala and it was another case of no Kompany, no clean sheet.
Coutinho dispossessed Bacary Sagna and released Firmino whose low cross from the by line was turned into his own gaol by the French central defender as he attempted to clear at the near post.
And it got even better for Liverpool when they doubled their lead midway through the opening period after shambolic defending from City.
Firmino, surrounded by three City markers, broke free and from the right square the ball for Coutinho to get in-between Mangala and Bacary Sagna to slot home a low shot from 12 yards.
Liverpool added a third goal in the 32nd minute after a terrifically worked goal on the counter attack.
Emre Can’s cheeky back heel released Coutinho on the left and he square a pass for Firmino to turn into the empty net for his first Liverpool goal.
It was the first time City had conceded three first-half goals in a Premier League game since 2003 against Arsenal.
It could conceivably got even worse for City as Firminho had two chances to add to his tally as Hart made a brilliant block and he then rolled a shot narrowly wide with Hart beaten.
City were toiling and failing to come to terms with Liverpool’s high intensity pressing game and brilliant counter attacking.
But little over one minute before the break, City were handed a lifeline and possibly a route back into the game.
Aleksandar Kolarov set up Aguero who curled in a delightful shot from the edge of the D for his ninth goal of the season.
City brought on Fernandinho and Fabian Delph for the out-of-sorts Yaya Toure and Jesus Navas for the restart as Sterling was pushed up alongside Aguero in a two-pronged attack.
Liverpool came within a whisker of scoring a fourth goal on the hour when Lucas put Firminho clean through only for Hart to make a brilliant block to deflect his shot narrowly wide for a corner.
Firminho then put Coutinho in the clear to score, though the Brazilian had strayed offside.
Liverpool almost handed City a second goal following a stray back pass was intercepted by Sterling who square the ball to Aguero whose shot was brilliantly saved by Simon Mignolet.
City made their last change midway through the second period when Aguero was replaced by teenager Kelechi Iheanacho as Pellegrini didn’t want to risking the tiring Argentinian picking up a new injury on his comeback.
Liverpool substitutes Jordan Ibe and Benteke combined and the latter was denied by a great block by Hart.
It was only a temporary reprieve as from the corner Liverpool added a fourth goal as Adam Lallana’s kick was headed down by Benteke for Skrtel to half volley home with a screamer from the edge of the box.
And by the final whistle, the majority of disgruntled City fans had long left the stadium while every visiting supporter stayed to salute their side.