City Watch: Blues pick up statement victory

Manchester City faced two crucial games in the Premier League and Champions League ahead of the final international break of the year.

Good results from both of these games would give City a huge boost in the title race as well as strengthening their position in securing a top eight finish in Europe.

Before we talk about the Liverpool game on Sunday, which believe me, I cannot wait to do, City faced Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday last week. With two wins from three games in Europe this season, only a draw against Monaco denying the perfect start, a win against the German side was essential to continue the good form.

The first 15 minutes of the game were quite nervy for the Blues, Nico O’Reilly was struggling to keep Dortmund’s quick winger, Adeyemi at bay, and it looked like it might be a tough night. However, City clicked into gear when Phil Foden did his classic move just outside the box, picking the ball up, spinning, and shooting on his stronger left foot, giving us the lead.

Erling Haaland scored his customary goal just a few minutes later, with the half time score sitting at 2-0. Foden then scored a pretty much identical goal early on in the second half to give City a three goal lead and seemingly wrap up the game.

Dortmund managed to get one back just past the 70th minute mark, and looking threatening to get another one and make the game interesting. However, it wasn’t to be for the German side, as Rayan Cherki made an appearance off the bench and scored, meaning a 4-1 win for the Blues. Pep’s side now sit 4th in the table, with their next game against another German side, Bayer Leverkusen.

Moving onto the game on Sunday against our fierce old rivals, Liverpool. If you’d have asked me two weeks ago what I thought going into the match, I’d have been fairly confident, the Reds were in the midst of their poor run of form. However, the week leading up to this, they’d beaten Aston Villa and Real Madrid, and seemed to have re-gained some form, so it was potentially anyone’s game.

That last statement aged like a fine wine, City absolutely dismantled, demolished and embarrassed Liverpool, it was genuinely one of the most entertaining games I’ve watched in a long time.

Erling Haaland missed a penalty at 0-0, before scoring just a few minutes later, he is a bit unstoppable at the moment. Liverpool then scored to make it 1-1, coming from a Virgil Van Dijk header from a corner. This was ruled out as Andy Robertson was seen to be standing in a offside position and impeding Donnarumma.

This is the most controversial decision from the game, with fans divided on the decision. For me, the goal can’t stand, it’s not about Robertson blocking Gigi’s vision, the goalkeeper has to consider what the Liverpool player is going to do, and he will react in a different manner because he’s standing in that position, so for me, it was the correct decision.

I don’t think it would’ve mattered much, City obliterated Arne Slot’s team, it really was men against boys. Nico Gonzalez scored just before half time, leaving the Blues two up at the break. Jeremy Doku then wrapped up his incredible performance with a magnificent goal from outside the box.

I want to talk about Doku, because this is his third season at the club, and the past few years, he’s been criticised, myself included, for lacking end product and not being consistent enough. This season he’s been on a different planet, and the game on Sunday was a masterpiece from him. It was by far his best performance in a City shirt, and if he keeps improving, we’ve got a serious player on our hands. Connor Bradley simply couldn’t cope with him, I almost felt a bit sorry for the Liverpool right back at the end of the game.

With Arsenal drawing to Sunderland on Saturday, we now sit just four points behind the Gunners heading into the break. The phrase ‘Objects in your mirror are closer than they appear’ springs to mind, and it feels like we’ve seen this movie before with the North London team!