Liverpool 1-4 Manchester City: 5 talking points as dominant City condemn misfiring Reds to yet another home defeat | Premier League 2020-21

#3 Manchester City are showcasing their formidable squad depth

Manchester City have been able to overcome injuries and illnesses with consummate ease this season.

In a season where injuries and illnesses have taken their toll on every team, Manchester City have been able to deal extremely well with the packed schedule and the problems that come with COVID-19.

Such is the quality that Manchester City currently have in every position that injuries to key personnel over the course of the season have not derailed their progress in any of the competitions they have featured in.

Be it the absence of Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus in attack, Ederson in goal, or Kevin De Bruyne in midfield, Pep Guardiola has been able to call upon supremely competent deputies who have stepped up to fill the void.

The striker’s role has been filled in by the star-studded array of midfielders at Guardiola’s disposal in his favored false 9 formation. Meanwhile, Zack Steffen has proved to be a dependable backup goalkeeper, while Gundogan has taken the league by storm with his contributions from midfield.

8 - Since netting his very first goal of the season on December 15th, Manchester City’s Ilkay Gündoğan has scored at least two more league goals than any other Premier League player over this period (8). Redeemed. pic.twitter.com/cirQlPjGHv

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 7, 2021

Furthermore, Stones and Dias have been so impressive in defense that the likes of Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake, and Eric Garcia can hardly get a look-in. On the other hand, summer signing Ferran Torres has also had to bide his time after starting the season brightly.

With the importance of a relatively injury-free squad more heightened than ever before, Manchester City’s impressive squad depth can be the key to the successes they achieve this season.

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#4 Liverpool’s home form has taken an unexpected turn for the worse

Liverpool are yet to win a league game at home in 2021.

After a mammoth run of 68 games unbeaten in the Premier League at Anfield, Liverpool found their impressive streak unexpectedly halted by Burnley earlier this month.

And while Liverpool fell short of their pursuit of Chelsea’s remarkable run of 86 games unbeaten, the Burnley defeat was viewed only as an unexpected aberration at the time.

27 – After 23 games this season, Liverpool (40) now have 27 fewer points than they did at the same stage last season (67), the biggest drop by any reigning champion at this stage of a campaign in English top-flight history. Molehill. #LIVMCI pic.twitter.com/lrwiL8Ndko

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 7, 2021

As it turned out, that result would be the catalyst for an abysmal run of home form for the Reds. Brighton also emerged from Anfield with three points, before Manchester City inflicted this most recent defeat on Liverpool.

To make matters worse, Salah’s penalty against Manchester City was the first goal Liverpool have scored at home in 2021 - a far cry from their free-scoring ways that saw them claim the title last season.

While a team of Liverpool’s class will not take long to rediscover its home form, the margins are extremely tight at the top of the Premier League. And Liverpool might look back at this Anfield slump as a crucial moment on their journey to retain their title.

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#5 Can Manchester City be caught at the top of the Premier League table?

Manchester City have opened up a five-point gap with a game in hand atop the Premier League standings.

Having overcome a sluggish start to the Premier League season, Manchester City have flexed their muscles and now sit comfortably atop the table.

This 4-1 win over Liverpool is the latest statement of intent they have made to the rest of the league, opening up a five-point lead at the top of the table with a game in hand over their nearest rivals in the process.

Add to that the fact that the next five teams below Manchester City in the standings all dropped points this weekend, and Manchester City’s title credentials seem to grow stronger with every passing result.

14 - @ManCity have now equalled the all-time winning run by an English top-flight side across all competitions, winning each of their last 14 matches – the same number as Preston (ending in 1892) and Arsenal (ending in 1987). Stupendous. #LIVMCI pic.twitter.com/AjRx833bsO

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 7, 2021

If they are to be leapfrogged in the table come the end of the season, it seems like only a herculean effort by a fellow title contender or a monumental collapse on the part of Manchester City will suffice.

And while either of those scenarios would make for great viewing, the possibility of that actually happening seems fairly remote at this stage.