Player ratings: Doku and Haaland ignite City’s title charge with 8/10 performances vs. Liverpool

Manchester City triumphed after Doku earned a penalty (missed by Haaland), with Haaland later scoring. Liverpool had a goal disallowed before City’s Nico Gonzalez and a spectacular Doku strike sealed the victory.

According to Goal.com’s analysis, Manchester City produced a sublime performance to defeat Liverpool 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium, with Belgian winger Jeremy Doku delivering a devastating individual display.

The victory, a fitting tribute to Pep Guardiola on his 1000th game as a manager, was utterly dominant and severely damaged Liverpool’s hopes of retaining the Premier League title.

Here are the individual performance critiques for Manchester City’s players:

Gianluigi Donnarumma: 6/10

The Italian goalkeeper had a relatively calm evening. He dealt confidently with Liverpool’s only notable shot on target in the first half and successfully managed his distribution, despite a nervous moment when he was nowhere near Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed header.

Matheus Nunes: 7/10

The wing-back was instrumental in the opening goal, providing a superb cross that Erling Haaland powered into the net. He was a constant threat when advancing forward and displayed sound defending throughout the contest.

Ruben Dias: 8/10

A typically composed and authoritative performance from the centre-back. He competently nullified any aerial threats and exhibited his strength in one-on-one duels, effectively marshalling Liverpool’s attack and making key clearances.

Josko Gvardiol: 7/10

The Croatian defender turned in an extremely solid and efficient shift alongside his defensive partner. His pace and smart positioning were crucial in allowing City to maintain a high defensive line and quickly smother any attempted transitions from the visitors.

Nico O’Reilly: 8/10

The midfielder-turned-left-back put in an exceptional shift, effectively neutralizing the threat of Mohamed Salah down the flank. He was a dynamic presence in attack, providing an assist for the second goal, and his performance underlined his growing importance to the side.

Bernardo Silva: 7/10

The City captain provided a masterclass in control from the middle of the park. He dictated the tempo of the game, consistently made the correct choices in possession, and helped his team maintain sustained pressure on the visitors.

Nico Gonzalez: 8/10

Gonzalez enjoyed a strong outing, capped by a crucial goal just before the interval, drilling home an effort from distance to double City’s advantage. His assured display in midfield saw him confidently circulate possession and cover ground.

Rayan Cherki: 6/10

One of the quieter members of the forward line, he struggled to impose his influence on the match, with City’s other attackers dominating the play. His final deliveries were sometimes lacking, meaning the game often bypassed his position.

Phil Foden: 6/10

Operating on the margins of the contest, Foden was less involved than usual. While he demonstrated his customary neat passing, he failed to produce the moment of decisive quality needed to unlock the Liverpool defense.

Jeremy Doku: 8/10

The Belgian winger was the undisputed Man of the Match, delivering a spectacular performance that “ripped Liverpool to shreds.” He was an unstoppable force, winning the penalty (which Haaland missed) and securing the win with a stunning curled finish. His pace and constant trickery terrorized the Liverpool right flank.

Erling Haaland: 8/10

Despite having his early penalty saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili, the Norwegian swiftly made amends by heading City into the lead from a corner. His presence was a continual threat to the Liverpool backline throughout the match.

Substitutes: Savinho (6/10), Omar Marmoush (N/A).