We could be more productive in shooting, maybe people need to arrive more in the box. But we played a fantastic team and put together a really good performance. The first half was 50/50 and set pieces made the difference.

That Liverpool have had fewer injuries than its Premier League rivals is no coincidence, but claims that Arne Slot has not had any absentee issues is wide of the mark.

Pep Guardiola explained that Erling Haaland was left out of the Manchester City squad to face Liverpool after coming up sore after training on the eve of the match. Guardiola had hoped to be able to bring his star striker back in after the Norwegian missed the midweek defeat to Real Madrid but the forward failed a late fitness test and was unavailable for the 2-0 loss to Liverpool.