'An asteroid strike' - National media react as Man City nightmare comes to Liverpool

Liverpool were handed a major boost in the Premier League title race thanks to Manchester City. Arne Slot's team are currently five points clear at the top of the table as they prepare to face Southampton on Sunday at St Mary's.

Roughly 24 hours earlier, City were beaten 4-0 at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur. A James Maddison brace supported by goals from Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson saw City suffer a fifth consecutive defeat in all competitions and third in the Premier League.

The defeat meant that Liverpool had the opportunity to extend the advantage over City to eight points going into the top-of-the-table clash at Anfield next weekend. The Reds duly fought back from 2-1 down to win 3-2, with Mohamed Salah converting a late penalty.

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With City's visit to Liverpool expected to dominate the Premier League build-up next week, the ECHO has taken a look at what the national media have said about the Reds' title hopes after Tottenham's win at the Etihad.

Paul Joyce wrote for The Times: "A fifth successive defeat not only prolonged [Pep] Guardiola's worst run as a coach but also represented the club's heaviest home defeat in 21 years, dating back to when they still played at Maine Road and a bygone time when they were the butt of everyone's jokes.

"'The journey continues' was the tagline used to accompany the manager's two-year contract extension. So does the misery.

"The damage of this defeat could quickly be exacerbated should Premier League leaders Liverpool win away to Southampton today, opening up an eight-point cushion on their rivals before next weekend's showdown at Anfield. Guardiola, remember, has never won there when a crowd has been present.

"However, defending the crown his side have won four times in a row will no longer be at the forefront of his thoughts. He is seeking much smaller gains given that his team have become the antithesis of everything he stands for: chaotic and lacking in control."

Sam Wallace added for The Telegraph: "Nov 12, 2022, and two Ivan Toney goals in a 2-1 win for Brentford was the last time City lost at the Etihad – and that season ended with the treble.

"That was an asteroid strike of a home defeat for City, and the last two years have been testament to their consistency. Yet Saturday evening was different. Guardiola stared out from under the rain at the worst run of his epic coaching career.

"After Feyenoord on Tuesday they play Liverpool at Anfield next Sunday, potentially 11 points adrift of the league leaders by then, and they look wide open."

Matt Barlow concludes for the Daily Mail: "City and their supporters were stunned. And rivals will view this as their chance, a vulnerable point at which they can strike and wrest the Premier League from their grasp. Liverpool will stretch eight points clear if they win at Southampton on Sunday.

"Next weekend, Guardiola's wounded champions go to Anfield. They look exhausted. Perhaps at the end of their mental endurance. They are depleted by injuries. Without Rodri, Ruben Dias and more. With Kevin de Bruyne not at his best. And yet so are others. Tottenham came without six, including their first-choice centre halves."