Liverpool may have been crowned Premier League champions on the back of an impressive 2019/2020 campaign, but at an empty Etihad stand on Thursday, they were made to play catch-up as City ran riot in the Reds first game since being crowned champions.
Goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden and an own goal from Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain saw City win 4-0 against the league champions.
Liverpool remain a whopping 20 points ahead of City, but were made to pay for a ignonimous display at the Etihad Stadium.
The visiting team had started brightly in the first twenty minutes, with Mohammed Salah making the most impact. But City soon found their rhythm in the 25h minute, with De Bruyne stroking home a penalty after Sterling was brought down in the box by Joe Gomez.
Sterling then turned goalscorer when he collected Foden’s pass inside the area and calmly slotted home past Alisson.
Foden also made the switch from provider to scorer, receiving the ball after brilliant play from De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan to grab the third of the night.
And when it looked as if things couldn’t get any worse for Jurgen Klopp’s men, substitute Oxlade-Chamberlain turned into his own net in the 66th minute while attempting to clear Sterling’s effort on goal.
Algerian captain Riyad Mahrez netted a stoppage-time goal that was ruled out by VAR after a handball by Foden in the build-up.
The result leaves City eleven points above Leicester City in second.