Man City vs. Liverpool final score: Premier League result, highlights, stats as Doku dazzles to humble champions

JUMP TO:

• Highlights and commentary from Man City vs. Liverpool 
• Team news and lineups
• Where to watch Man City vs. Liverpool where you are

ETIHAD STADIUM, MANCHESTER — Manchester City closed to within four points of Premier League leaders Arsenal with a dominant 3-0 win over champions Liverpool.

After a restorative week that featured wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid at Anfield, Arne Slot's side were brought back down to earth by first-half goals from Erling Haaland — who had an earlier penalty saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili — and Nico Gonzalez.

Jeremy Doku won the penalty after a contentious VAR decision and was a thorn in Liverpool's side throughout. The Belgium winger put the seal on three points and an effervescent individual performance when he dispatched a fabulous long-range strike after the hour.

Liverpool were entitled to feel aggrieved at Virgil van Dijk having a header ruled out for offside when the score was 1-0 due to Andy Robertson obstructing the view of Gianluigi Donnarumma. In truth, they never got as close to City again and might now have to contemplate a season of revised targets, sitting as they do in eighth and eight points behind the leaders.

Man City vs. Liverpool score

Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Referee: Chris Kavanagh

Lineups:

Man City (4-1-4-1, right to left): 25. Gianluigi Donnarumma (GK) — 27. Matheus Nunes, 3. Ruben Dias, 24. Josko Gvardiol, 33. Nico O'Reilly — 14. Nico Gonzalez — 20. Bernardo Silva, 47. Phil Foden, 10. Rayan Cherki (26. Savinho), 11. Jeremy Doku  (7. Omar Marmoush) — 9. Erling Haaland

Liverpool (4-2-3-1, right to left): 25. Giorgi Mamardashvili (GK) — 12. Conor Bradley (2. Joe Gomez), 5. Ibrahima Konate, 4. Virgil van Dijk, 26. Andy Robertson (6. Milos Kerkez)— 38. Ryan Gravenberch, 10. Alexis Mac Allister — 11. Mohamed Salah, 8. Dominik Szoboszlai, 7. Florian Wirtz (14. Federico Chiesa) — 22. Hugo Ekitike (18. Cody Gakpo)

MORE: Dominik Szoboszlai reveals what Liverpool 'missed' during form slump

Pep Guardiola packed the City team with creatives for his 1,000th game as a manager. Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki started as dual playmakers as they did in the 3-1 win over Bournemouth, but it was Doku who quickly caught the eye.

The 23-year-old was given license to roam from flank to flank but took a liking to Conor Bradley. Five days on from the Northern Ireland international excelling against Vinicius Junior, he was torn to pieces in east Manchester.

Doku darted into the box from that side in the 11th minute and went down under a challenge from Marmardashvili. Referee Chris Kavanagh was sent to the monitor and deemed there to have been enough contact. However, Mamardashvili atoned for his error when Haaland made a poor contact with the penalty, which was comfortably saved by the Georgian giant down to his left.

There was a touch of fortune in how Haaland made up for that aberration. Matheus Nunes' excellent right-wing cross clipped off Ibrahima Konate, straight into the superstar striker's forehead. Mamardashvili was helpless to deny him a 19th goal of the season this time.

Liverpool understandably felt they should have been level in the 38th minute when Van Dijk steered home a fine header from Mohamed Salah's right-wing corner. The ball nestled in Donnarumma's left corner and the Italy goalkeeper saw the ball all the way. However, Robertson being in an offside position and ducking under the line of the ball was enough for the video official to recommend ruling the goal out.

To compound Van Dijk's misery, he got a boot on Nico's speculative drive and it flew in three minutes into first-half stoppage time.

City made a sleepy start to the second half, which went unpunished. The exception was the livewire Doku, who had already gone close a couple of times before he collected Nico O'Reilly's pass and brought the house down.

Man City vs Liverpool stats

Man City vs. Liverpool  updates, highlights, and commentary

Fulltime

City win, comprehensively and deservedly, albeit with a slice of first-half VAR fortune. Jeremy Doku was phenomenal and sealed the victory. Arne Slot has a boatload of attacking talent but collectively they couldn't muster Doku's threat between them. They're eight points behind Arsenal in eighth and it's already feeling like a top-four race for the chamnpions. City, after their most convincing performance against a direct rival arguably since their treble success in 2023, are second and four points behind the Gunners. Thanks for joining us.

90+1 mins: Szoboszlai lumps into Foden out of frustration and is booked.

90 mins: Three minutes added on. Plenty of Liverpool fans have already headed for the exits. 

83 mins: Bradley's ordeal is over as Gomez comes on. Chiesa comes on to end another afternoon for frustrating nothingness for Wirtz.

82 mins: Gorgeous pass by Foden to give O'Reilly a great sight of goal. The teenager blazes over and then comes down with cramp. 

79 mins: Ohhh, Salah's a whisker away. The ball comes back from Donnarumma's long clearance downfield. Salah gets goal side of Gvardiol, produces a beautifully deflect finish but if flickers just past the post.

77 mins: Haaland gets up at the near post to repel the corner. He doesn't get it too far and Donnarumma hurls himself effectively at Salah's feet before the flag goes up.

76 mins:  Fine save from Donnarumma. Szoboszlai catches a rasper that the City keeper turns behind.

73 mins: Doku departs to a deserved standing ovation. Barring anything absurd, there goes your man of the match. Marmoush comes on in his place.

72 mins: Szoboszlai gets into some space down the City left. He steers a lovely ball to the back post, where Nunes is forced to concede a corner.

68 mins: Szoboszlai shoves Doku to the floor as he darts over halfway. A foul of total exasperation.

63 mins: GOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!! Jeremy Doku!!!!!

Oh my, that's a stunning strike to cap a wonderful performance from Doku. Nico pings it crossfield to O'Reilly, who set it back to the Belgium winger. He uncorks a spectacular right-footed finish, curling into the far corner from 25 yards.

Watch in USA:

WHAT A STRIKE. Jeremy Doku and Man City are rolling versus Liverpool! 👀 pic.twitter.com/gbAQXWlL12

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 9, 2025

UK:

Jeremy Doku with STUNNING strike! 💫 pic.twitter.com/MRzsqDw1Vt

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 9, 2025

Canada:

Jeremy Doku SCORES!!

⚽ 3-0 Manchester City vs Liverpool FC

WATCH EVERY GOAL 👉 https://t.co/2w98QqADfX#PL #PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/cLDSVmzIgY

— FuboCanada 🇨🇦 (@fuboTVCanada) November 9, 2025

Australia:

It's SPECIAL from Jeremy Doku and Manchester City have THREE 😲🩵

It's a boilover at the Etihad 👀

↳ Premier League. Live & On Demand with 4K on Football’s New Home, Stan Sport. Stream now.#StanSportAU #PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/s618PLqJKE

— Stan Sport Football (@StanSportFC) November 9, 2025

60 mins: City having to dig in. Some respite as Kerkez thinks he's won a corner but has strayed offside.

58 mins: Wirtz's corner is poor and cleared. Oh but here's Gakpo at the far post, blazes over!  Should score.

57 mins: Looks like Wirtz and Szoboszlai will double up at centre-forward/false nine or so such. Who needs a striker when Nico almost put through his own net.

56 mins: Gvardiol scythes through Wirtz and gives Liverpool the chance to make a double change. Kerkez on for Robertson and Gakpo on for Ekitike.

55 mins: Doku dances through two challenges. His shot is too close to Mamardashvili but this is a thrilling demonstration of wing play.

53 mins: Foden clumps the free-kick in the wall. Before that, Guardiola sent on Savinho for Cherki.

52 mins: Thrilling break from Doku, who leaves Bradley for dust. Cherki delays his shot, which is blocked. A scrambling Bradley fouls Nico. 

50 mins: Offfff, Donnaruma comes hairing out of his area because Gvardiol has played everyone onside. Stunning sliding challenge from Dias on Salah.

49 mins: City briefly look in trouble from a corner before Kavanagh blows for a foul. Guardiola's men have started this half sloppily.

48 mins: Doku to the fore once more, fizzes a ball across the Liverpool six-yard box but there's no one there.

47 mins: Salah gets into the City box, sets the ball back for Bradley, who can't make the most of it. An unconvincing scramble to safety follow from the hosts.

Kickoff: 2nd Half

Off we go again. Still throwing it down. No changes for either side.

Halftime

On the one hand, City are good value for that lead. They've been the better side and scored twice after the body blow of Haaland having a penalty saved. On the other, Liverpool can definitely feel aggrieved at Van Dijk's equaliser being chalked off for offside. If they pull this back after the grim irony of Van Dijk sending Nico's shot spinning into his own net then it will be something. Sometimes it's not your day/season.

48+3 mins: GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!! Nico Gonzalez!!!!!

City double their advantage. Nico takes aim with a speculative strike that deflects of Van Dijk - would you believe - and leaves Mamardashvili with no chance.

45+2 mins: Cherki shuffles his way into the Liverpool box but can't get off a shot or a pass. Back he comes and forces Van Dijk to concede a corner.

45 mins: Seven additional minutes after all the assorted VAR faffing. That still feels like quite a lot.

39 mins: OFFSIDE, NO GOAL! Andy Robertson was in an offside position and in the line of the ball. But City have probably got away with one there, let off by VAR rules rigmarole. Robertson did not try to play the ball and Donnarumma was not unsighted.

38 mins: GOOOOOAAAA.... Hang on! Van Dijk plants home a lovely header from the right-wing corner. But there's an offside check.

36 mins: Mac Allister brings down Doku and is booked. The Belgian is driving Liverpool to distraction at times.

31 mins City look to go bang, bang. Cherki with a lovely ball to Haaland, who can't find room to pull the trigger. Doku's low ball for Foden is clutched by Mamardashvili.

29 mins: GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!! Erling Haaland!!!!

The Premier League's top scorer atones for his dreadful penalty with a wonderful backpost header, looped back the way it came past Mamardasvili. Nunes's cross was a pearler. Oh, hang on, said cross deflected right into Haaland's bonce, so there is a touch of fortune.

28 mins: City make a hash of their corner routine. They're impressively bad at those in a year when everyone is busy scoring from corners. Nico brings down Wirtz and is booked.

27 mins: Doku, who is causing Liverpool problems in a speedboat without a driver kind of way, thumps a deflected shot into the side netting.

25 mins: Incessant rain here. The linesman has fallen over. Fun for all the family.

24 mins: O'Reilly now up and carrying on, but Gvardiol down. He's carrying on too, but an interesting few monments for the left-hand side of City's defence.

21 mins: Break in play as O'Reilly gets some treatment, Doesn't look ideal for the City youngster here.

20 mins: Wirtz with room to manoeuvre but get the pass all wrong and a combination of Dias and Nunes can mop up.

18 mins: Haaland takes a heavy touch but City win it back and Foden gets them moving. Doku finds Cherki, and his left-footed effort is deflected behind. No undue worries for Liverpool from the corner.

15 mins: Silva launches into a tackle on Van Dijk for a loose ball and catches the Liverpool skipper above the ankle. This could get spicy.

13 mins: SAVED!!!!!!  Haaland goes to the right and Mamardashvili keeps it out! Hang on, has there been encroachment? No, play on.

11 mins: PENALTY TO MANCHESTER CITY!  The referee's headset didn't work briefly, but that's given as a foul by Mamardashvili.

10 mins: Referee Kavanagh is going to the monitor...

9 mins; Doku once more, into the Liverpool area, looks to round Mamardashvili and goes to ground. Liverpool scramble clear but is that a penalty? 

8 mins: Salah's first foray into the City box. Doesn't get hold of the effort at all and Donnarumma can drop on it.

7 mins: Doku involved again as City break through midfield. His through ball to Foden looks a belter but Van Dijk reads the situation well and shepherds out of play.

5 mins: Doku, who is already roving from wing to wing, barrels into the Liverpool box from the left hand side. Mac Allister clears a bobbling ball in agricultural fashion.

4 mins: The sides feeling each other out so far. Decent amount of City possession but largely inside their own half.

Kickoff: 1st Half

After fans and players observe Remembrance Sunday, Liverpool get us underway.

5 mins before kickoff: Here come the teams, with the Etihad strewn in giant banners celebrating Pep Guardiola's 1,000th match as a manager.

Liverpool lineup vs. Man City: Confirmed starting XI

Formation 4-2-3-1

Mamardashvili (GK)

Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson

Gravenberch, Mac Allister

Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz

Ekitike

Liverpool team news

Slot names unchanged XI from the win over Madrid, which was certainly one of Liverpool's best performances of the season.

Giorgi Mamardashvili keeps his place in goal as Alisson is not yet ready to return from a thigh injury. Jeremie Frimpong has also been ruled out, so Conor Bradley starts after arguably a career-best showing against Vinicius Junior.

Florian Wirtz seemed to enjoy himself off the left and once again completes the Liverpool front three. Alexander Isak returns to the substitutes' bench after four games out with a groin issue.

MORE: Breaking down the prize money on offer in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League

Liverpool injury list

Below is the latest injury picture for Liverpool, including estimated return dates for those who are sidelined.

Jereme Frimpong

• Injury: Hamstring
• Expected return date:  November 22

Frimpong suffered the second hamstring injury of his fledgling Liverpool career in Frankfurt and faces another month on the sidelines as club medics look to get to the bottom of a nagging issue for the former Bayer Leverkusen star.

The home game against Nottingham Forest after the November international break is a possible target.

Alisson Becker

• Injury: Thigh
• Expected return date:  December 2025

Slot's No. 1 Alisson suffered a thigh injury saving a certain goal in the defeat to Galatasaray at the end of September. The Brazilian could be out until late November or into December.

The summer departure of Caoimhin Kelleher was instantly filled by Mamardashvili, who has picked up after some uneven displays.

Giovanni Leoni

• Injury: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear
• Expected return date:  August 2026

Summer signing Leoni suffered a nightmare debut as he horrifically tore an ACL against Southampton. The Italian defender underwent immediate surgery and his campaign has already been cruelly ended.

Man City vs. Liverpool match details

• Date: Sunday, November 9, 2025
• Kickoff time: 4:30 p.m. Local / 11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT / 3:30 a.m. AEDT (Nov. 10)
• Location:  Etihad Stadium (Manchester, England)
• Competition: Premier League matchweek 11
• Referee:  Chris Kavanagh
• VAR: Michael Oliver

Liverpool news and related links

• Liverpool ace expected to miss up to six weeks with hamstring injury
• Saudi Pro League door remains open for Mohamed Salah on one condition
• Liverpool boss Arne Slot unfazed about Salah's slump in form

30 mins before kickoff: Florian Wirtz starts again for Liverpool, still searching for that first Premier League goal involvement. He looked good in midweek, liberated by being able to rove off the left and snapping into challenges in the final third. It'd be the perfect time to end the drought.

1 hr 10 mins before kickoff: Arne Slot goes with the same Liverpool lineup that performed so well in beating Real Madrid in midweek. Record signing Alexander Isak is fit enough for a place on the bench.

1 hr 15 mins before kickoff: The teams are in and Guardiola names the same City XI that beat Bournemouth seven days ago. That means John Stones, Savinho and Tijjani Reijnders rotate out of the side that beat Borussia Dortmund, with Ruben Dias, Rayan Cherki and captain Bernardo Silva coming in.

Your City line-up! 💪🩵

XI | Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Nico, Bernardo (C), Foden, Cherki, Doku, Haaland

SUBS | Trafford, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Marmoush, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Bobb, Lewis

🤝 @etihad pic.twitter.com/YWYbutQhMj

— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 9, 2025

1 hr 30 mins before kickoff: Today marks Pep Guardiola's 1,000th game in management, a phenomenal achievement in any circumstances and undoubtedly at the level he's operated since being elevated from Barcelona B in 2008. Liverpool are definitely a fitting opponent, as Guardiola acknowledged at his pre-match press conference.

“If I have to choose one rival to do this, I will share it with many people, but this will be the best.

“I have been here longer than ever in this country, the impact it’s had on my life. Barcelona is my club and Bayern was incredible as well but Liverpool have been the biggest rival in this country and especially Jurgen [Klopp], it could not be better. The destiny and universe has decided for this."

E to choose one rival to do this, I will share it with many people, but this will be the best,” he said in his pre-match news conference.

“I have been here longer than ever in this country, the impact it’s had on my life. Barcelona is my club and Bayern was incredible as well but Liverpool have been the biggest rival in this country and especially Jurgen [Klopp], it could not be better. The destiny and universe has decided for this.

2 hours before kickoff. Hello and welcome to AllSportsPeople' live coverage of Manchester City vs. Liverpool from the Etihad Stadium. It's ridiculously early to be saying such a thing but this weekend does have that feeling of a potentially big one in the title race about it.

Man City vs. Liverpool kick off time

The Manchester City vs. Liverpool match kicks off in Manchester at 4:30 p.m. Local time.

Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories:

Man City vs. Liverpool lineups, team news

Guardiola left Rodri out of the Dortmund win after the midfielder had complained of feeling less than fully fit, and there is a doubt over whether he will be risked against Liverpool.

In Rodri's presumed absence, the team will likely look very similar to the one from Wednesday. Nico Gonzalez will anchor the midfield, with the in-form Foden expected to keep his place as an attacking playmaker alongside Tijjani Reijnders. Bernardo Silva's big-game nous and positional discipline may earn him the nod over Savinho.

There could be a change at the back, with Ruben Dias ready to return in place of John Stones if Guardiola reverts to the defence that started against Bournemouth.

Man City predicted starting XI (4-1-4-1, right to left): Donnarumma (GK) — Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly — Nico — Silva, Foden, Cherki, Doku — Haaland

Man City subs: Matchday squads released one hour and 15 minutes before kickoff

Slot could well name an unchanged XI from the win over Madrid, which was certainly one of Liverpool's best performances of the season.

Giorgi Mamardashvili will keep his place in goal as Alisson is not yet ready to return from a thigh injury. Jeremie Frimpong has also been ruled out, so Conor Bradley will hope his redoubtable shut-down of Vinicius Junior will see him retain his starting spot.

Florian Wirtz seemed to enjoy himself out on the left, so he could well start there again. Alexander Isak has a chance of making the squad after four games out with a groin issue, but he will not be ready to start, so Hugo Ekitike should lead the line.

Liverpool predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Mamardashvili (GK) — Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson — Gravenberch, Mac Allister — Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz — Ekitike

Liverpool subs: Matchday squads released one hour and 15 minutes before kickoff

TEAM vs. TEAM live stream, TV channel

Here is how to watch the match in some of the world's major regions: