Whilst the final result of this game was already confirmed even before the kick off, Manchester City's performance against Premier League champions Liverpool showcased why the Blues will be back stronger than ever next season to try and obtain the league title from the Reds.

A penalty from Kevin De Bruyne and strikes from Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden as well as an own goal from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ensured that the guard of honour prior to the match was the only piece of hospitality City would give to Liverpool. 

  • Story of the match

For the first 25 minutes of the match, Liverpool showed why they are the champions with aggressive pressing from the front forcing City to play a few sloppy passes and the team in red winning the second ball.

That being said, City almost made the perfect start with Gabriel Jesus netting after three minutes after being played in on goal following a long ball from the left wing by Benjamin Mendy. Thankfully for Liverpool, the Brazilian was offside.

From the restart following the correct decision, Virgil Van Dijk played a fine pass over the top to Mohammed Salah. However, Ederson, typical as ever, came out of his goal to close Salah's angle and ensure the Egyptian had a harder chance than at first.

The champions continued to probe for the opener and nearly found it midway through the first half. Trent Alexander-Arnold rightly praised for his excellent passing started the move with an infield pass to Firmino who slid the ball right to Salah. The winger cut inside and unleashed his left footed shot, but unfortunately for the Reds, his effort smashed off the post with Ederson beaten.

Similarly to the 2017/18 match between the two sides at The Etihad, City's opening goal came against the run of play. Differently from that season, the way Liverpool conceded the first goal was uncharacteristic to what has been a near perfect season. 

Sterling received the ball following a throw in from the left and controlled it superbly. The Englishman looked for a shooting opportunity but was tightly marked by Joe Gomez. However, according to referee Anthony Taylor, the winger was being held for too long and was dragged down by his national counterpart for a penalty to Man City. De Bruyne stepped up and calmly slotted his effort into the bottom left corner. 

De Bruyne ran the midfield as always, and took out four Liverpool players with an outstanding pass from the right to Jesus. Up against Andy Robertson, the forward spun the Scotsman superbly. However, his shot was less than impressive as it squirmed wide of the goal.

It wouldn't be long for City to wait for their second, and it duly arrived via the flawless Foden. The youngster, receiving a lay off from Jesus, ran into the heart of the Liverpool defense to slide the ball left to former red Sterling who got the better of Gomez again and cut inside to score at the near post to strengthen City's position in the match.

Foden's evening was only getting better and he got in on the act 10 minutes later. Robertson was partly at fault for the Blues' second goal by pressing too high, and he certainly made an even bigger error for the third.

The Scotsman tried to intercept Foden's first pass, but the youngster was too smart in comparison to his marker, playing a clever one-two with De Bruyne and then showing excellent composure to slot his shot high to the left past Alisson.

Halftime brought a much need reprieve for Liverpool as they subbed off the much maligned Gomez for Oxlade-Chamberlain which saw Fabinho dropped to centre-back.

The change did not bring much fortune to the Reds as City looked certain to score a fourth before Liverpool could get their first. Jesus had a tame effort saved, and moments later, Foden had a shot cleared off the line and Sterling had his shot deflected wide by Fabinho. 

Liverpool almost had had a moment to get back in the game when Sadio Mane was pushed by Kyle Walker into the box. Anthony Taylor initially awarded a penalty, however with the aid of VAR, the decision was correctly overturned to a free kick where the contact initially started. The set piece availed to nothing as Alexander-Arnold could not repeat his effort against Crystal Palace last week. 

City knew that if Liverpool scored one they could have really found some momentum to wrestle back the scoreline in their favour, but just after the hour mark they put any doubts at rest by making it 4-0. 

Rodri passed it long to the left to De Bruyne who picked out yet another fine pass to Sterling who again cut inside. His left footed effort would have been heading wide had it not been been for the unfortunate Oxlade-Chamberlain, who diverted it into his own net to all but end the contest.

The game fizzled out but City always looked like scoring whenever they went forward and nearly found the net via Riyad Mahrez who shot wide following a clever step-over past Fabinho. As in 2017/18 when City beat Liverpool 5-0, the blues thought they had replicated that scoreline when Mahrez scored at the near post but it was ruled out due to Foden's hand being involved in the build up to the goal.

  • Takeaways from the match

City show Liverpool and the rest of the League that they will be back next season

Whilst this result had no influence on what will happen this season at the top of the Premier League, Manchester City displayed the football that saw them win the title the last two seasons and exhibited why they will be a serious threat to the team from Merseyside and everyone else aiming to win England's top prize.

Foden isn't a player for the future, he is a player for the now

Phil Foden, dubbed as David Silva's successor when the legendary Spaniard leaves at the end of this season, showed why he is ready to take his place with an outstanding virtuoso performance against the champions.

The youngster was influential all evening and showed his versatility by starting right and eventually moving left whilst many believe his best position to be in the midfield three.

A cause for concern or just a case of a bit too much partying for Liverpool

Liverpool have been incredible all season, having won 28 from 32 matches and could yet still break several records this season including City's 100 point haul in 2017/18. That being said, today's performance will have been discouraging to Jurgen Klopp having showed fragility at the back and sloppiness in front of goal. 

The Reds can be excused for one game in what has been a stellar campaign, but Klopp might be alarmed with the performance City showed against his side this evening as well as Chelsea strengthening by signing Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner whilst Manchester United's form continues from strength to strength.

  • Up next for both

It's a short turnaround for both, with Manchester City travelling to the south coast to face Southampton at St Mary's Stadium on Sunday evening.

Liverpool will be glad to have a game so soon to eradicate this result and performance as they take on relegation battling Aston Villa at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.