Liverpool took an opportunity to open up an 11-point gap on reigning Premier League champions Manchester City with a pulsating 2-0 victory at Anfield on Sunday.

Liverpool raced into an early lead through Cody Gakpo in the 12th minute while Mohamed Salah scored a penalty kick to secure the victory for the Reds.

City have trailed in four consecutive Premier League games for the first time since April 2012, in what was a run of five under Roberto Mancini.

They’ve gone on to lose all four of these matches, after having been unbeaten in 12 straight games they had trailed in previously.

City are now 11 points off the runaway leaders down in fifth and winless in seven games, including six defeats.

Arsenal and Chelsea are Liverpool’s closest challengers as City appear set to lose their crown as English champions after winning an unprecedented four consecutive titles.

City’s only point since October 26 even felt like a defeat as they blew a 3-0 lead in the final 15 minutes to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League in midweek.

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Pep Guardiola responded by dropping goalkeeper Ederson, while Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias were also restored to the defence.

But there was no response from the defending champions as they were blown away in the opening stages.

Stefan Ortega was forced into fine saves from Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai before Virgil van Dijk crashed a header off the post.

City could barely get out of their half in the opening quarter and the goal duly arrived when Gakpo bundled in Salah’s enticing cross to the back post.

Van Dijk powered another big headed chance inches wide as the chances continued to come for Liverpool.

Even during City’s finest seasons under Guardiola, they have struggled to contain the power of the Anfield crowd.

City’s only away win against Liverpool since 2003 remains behind closed doors during the coronavirus-impacted 2021/22 season.

The Star