Manchester City cruised to a dominant 3-0 victory over Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, marking Pep Guardiola's 1,000th game as a manager in style. The win propelled City to second place in the Premier League table, closing the gap on leaders Arsenal to just four points.

The match showcased City's attacking prowess, with goals from Erling Haaland, Nico Gonzalez, and Jeremy Doku. Haaland, despite missing an early penalty, redeemed himself with a powerful header in the 29th minute, marking his 99th Premier League goal for the club. Gonzalez doubled the lead just before halftime with a deflected shot off Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk. Doku sealed the victory with a stunning strike from outside the box in the 63rd minute, capping off a man-of-the-match performance.

Guardiola, reflecting on his milestone achievement, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to manage his 1,000th game against a formidable opponent like Liverpool. He acknowledged the significance of the rivalry between the two clubs and the challenges Liverpool has posed throughout his tenure in England. In 999 matches leading Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City, Guardiola has earned 715 victories, a win-rate of 71.57%, and claimed a staggering 39 trophies.

The victory was particularly sweet for City, as it came against the reigning Premier League champions. Liverpool, who had shown signs of recovery with recent wins against Aston Villa and Real Madrid, were brought back down to earth by City's dominant performance. The loss leaves Liverpool in eighth place, eight points adrift of the league leaders.

City's performance was characterized by sharp attacking play and solid defense. Haaland's goalscoring threat was ever-present, while Doku's dazzling runs and creativity caused Liverpool's defense constant problems. Gonzalez's contribution in midfield provided stability and drive, while the defense, led by Ruben Dias, kept Liverpool's attack at bay.

Liverpool, on the other hand, struggled to find their rhythm. Mohamed Salah had a quiet game, and the midfield was unable to control the flow of play. Defensively, they were exposed by City's attacking fluidity and struggled to contain the runs of Doku and Haaland.

The win solidified Manchester City's position as a major title contender, sending a clear message to their rivals. With Arsenal also dropping points in their recent match, City seized the opportunity to close the gap and assert their dominance in the league.