Pep Guardiola was forced to admit his Manchester City side had been beaten by the better team after seeing them fall to yet another defeat at Liverpool.

Arne Slot’s side sit in the driving seat in the Premier League title race after extending their lead at the top of the table thanks to a 2-0 win at Anfield. The Reds now hold a nine-point advantage at the summit, while they also sit 11 points ahead of City.

The defending champions’ slump continued as they fell to a sixth defeat in their last seven games. Guardiola’s side haven’t won a game in any competition now since October 26, and there were yet more frailties on show on Merseyside as Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah secured Liverpool’s victory.

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The hosts dominated the first half, and really should have furthered their 1-0 advantage before the break. Nevertheless, they always looked in control of the game, and eventually put the result beyond doubt when Salah scored from the penalty spot after Luis Diaz was brought down by Stefan Ortega.

Guardiola, who had to bear the Anfield crowd’s chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” during the second half, conceded his side were firmly second-best on the day.

"The best team won, the first 10-15 minutes was almost unstoppable - it was so difficult,” Guardiola told BBC Radio 5 Live.

He added: “I congratulate Liverpool, they deserve the victory and we accept the situation right now and we'll build from that. We didn't have a pre-season and then injuries, but we know that and we have to survive with that. We competed but didn't create many chances.

"We don't have the pace in the middle right now and they are stronger in the duels and you have to survive with the ball. We're not good in transitions over 30-40 metres compared to them. We had to adapt and we did it. I cannot forget which players I have.

"I am here sitting as a manager and defending what we have done in the past thanks to them and more than ever I want to be with them and hug them. We have to change results and in the right time we will take the decision.”

Liverpool.com says: Well, he couldn’t have really said anything else after that performance. Liverpool were streets ahead of City, and even when the visitors started attacking more in the second half, Caoimhin Kelleher barely had anything to do, such was the control the Reds exhibited. There are clear problems at City at the moment – not that the Reds will care at this moment in time as they look to continue their push for the title.