Match Report: Player Ratings and Manager Insights

Manchester City marked Pep Guardiola’s 1000th match in management with a 2–0 win over Liverpool. The game at the Etihad showcased City’s control, creativity, and precision.
Jeremy Doku shone with a sensational display, while Erling Haaland showed resilience after missing a penalty.

Player Ratings

Gianluigi Donnarumma (6/10)
A mixed showing from the goalkeeper. Donnarumma was lucky to avoid a red card after racing out to stop Salah — a mistake rescued by Dias. He later made a sharp save from Szoboszlai’s long-range strike and cleared a loose ball away from Van Dijk.

Matheus Nunes (7/10)
This was one of his best matches in a City shirt. Nunes crossed perfectly for Haaland’s opener and defended strongly, matching Robertson’s speed and power down the flank.

Rúben Dias (8/10)
A commanding performance. Dias intercepted dangerous passes, stopped Salah several times, and produced a vital tackle after Donnarumma’s error. His timing and positioning were outstanding.

Joško Gvardiol (5/10)
A difficult afternoon for the Croatian defender. He lost focus in the second half and gave Liverpool several unnecessary chances.

Nico O’Reilly (7/10)
Full of energy and discipline. O’Reilly fought through an early knock to link up well with Doku, constantly stretching Liverpool’s defense on the left side.

Bernardo Silva (8/10)
The heartbeat of City’s midfield. Silva’s quick passing and movement dictated the rhythm of play and helped City control possession.

Nico González (8/10)
Calm and intelligent in midfield. González read the game superbly, made key interceptions, and joined attacks with confidence. His goal, deflected but deserved, came from boldness to shoot.

Phil Foden (6/10)
Less creative than usual but still effective. He tracked back, pressed hard, and helped maintain midfield balance when Liverpool tried to counter.

Rayan Cherki (5/10)
Below his usual standard. He missed one clear chance and struggled to make an impact before being replaced by Savinho early in the second half.

Erling Haaland (7/10)
Showed great mentality after missing a penalty. Haaland’s header opened the scoring, and he linked play cleverly in transition with one-touch passes.

Jeremy Doku (10/10)
Simply unstoppable. Doku dribbled past defenders with ease, won a penalty, and capped his performance with a brilliant goal. His energy and confidence set the tone for City’s victory.

Savinho (5/10)
Could not influence the game after coming on. His substitution coincided with a short spell of Liverpool pressure.

Omar Marmoush (6/10)
Worked hard after returning from injury. Showed desire but lacked sharpness in front of goal.

Pep Guardiola (9/10)

Guardiola produced a tactical masterclass for his milestone game. His starting lineup, especially Nunes and O’Reilly, perfectly countered Liverpool’s pressing.
He made only two substitutions, proving how satisfied he was with his team’s control and structure.

Match Summary and Tactical Insights

City were composed and efficient from start to finish. Haaland’s reaction after his missed penalty and Doku’s brilliance ensured Liverpool never gained momentum.
Guardiola’s setup limited Liverpool’s full-backs and created overloads in midfield, forcing Klopp’s side to defend deep.

With this win, Manchester City closed the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal and reinforced their title ambitions heading into the international break.