I saw the Kyle Walker moment that typified Man City's worrying lack of fight

It wasn't the fact that Manchester City lost at Liverpool, it was how they did it.

Pep Guardiola made changes to his side based on form and fitness, picking an unconventional starting XI that would have seen any City fan laughed out of East Manchester at the start of the season if they had suggested those 11 players in that order would start at Anfield for a must-win contest.

The gamble didn't work, as a hapless City were lucky to be only 1-0 down at half-time. A resurgence after the break didn't result in any meaningful chances on goal, before another collection of defensive mistakes allowed Luis Diaz to win a penalty and Mo Salah converted.

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City slump to fifth and sit 11 points behind Liverpool in first. More importantly, they are seven games without a win, including six defeats and must put things right against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

These are the moments you might have missed from the clash at Anfield:

The moment City weren't up for the fight

After 11 minutes of just about repelling the Liverpool onslaught, the opening goal inevitably came. As Liverpool celebrated, the City inquest began as Kyle Walker argued with Bernardo Silva, and there was a discussion between Nathan Ake and Manu Akanji over why the centre-back was left to defend against Mo Salah in a one-on-one situation.

Liverpool sensed blood from the start, and continued the search for goals that would kill their rivals off. At one corner, Virgil Van Dijk came forward and sized up Walker, looking like a man with every intention of getting to the ball regardless of who was in the way.

Walker's face looked like he didn't fancy stopping him. Van Dijk, of course, met the header, and City were thankful he powered it wide. Walker ended up five yards away from his man and then looked around for someone to blame. In response, the defence looked completely devoid of any organisation, leadership or fight.

That, despite Pep Guardiola citing Ruben Dias' leadership as a reason to recall him despite his month out without playing before this one.

There were panicked passes, more 50/50 challenges that City didn't fancy, and one attacking free kick that went backwards, ending with an aimless hoof to Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. In the second half, Van Dijk continued to win his duel over Walker, leaving him behind again and powering another free header over.

Liverpool are a fine football team, but didn't have to beat City in any particular tactical battle in a ragged first half. They beat them because they were more up for the fight and were ruthless in picking off their visitor's weaknesses. City improved after the break but couldn't muster more than 0.23 expected goals and the game was lost in that first half.

Haaland and Walker actions for penalty

It was another calamity as City gifted a penalty to Liverpool with 13 minutes remaining. Akanji played Dias into trouble. Walker tried to salvage the situation but gifted the ball to Luis Diaz. Stefan Ortega was a little too slow and conceded the penalty.

And as Walker tried to protest against the stonewall penalty, it was left to Erling Haaland to take Ortega to one side, focus the second-choice goalkeeper, and offer some words of encouragement. Walker was still arguing.

Haaland tried to stop the runners into the box as Salah scored, and shared a joke with the goalscorer before the restart. Walker did improve defensively between the two goals but too often let himself down by looking for someone else to blame rather than help his team through a very difficult afternoon.

Haaland's full-time message for Pep

City looked shell-shocked at half-time and like they didn't know where to go from here. Guardiola marched onto the pitch, his steely gaze only disrupted by a hand or two from Liverpool en-route to the officials.

He went with his players towards the City fans, some applauding and others standing with hands on hips. Guardiola went to each of his players for a quick word of condolence, and Haaland could be seen saying 'don't worry' to his manager in response to the message he received.

Haaland was sharing jokes with Liverpool players, including Mo Salah and Virgil Van Dijk, before Guardiola then walked off applauding the Liverpool fans as he took a magnanimous response to the defeat.

City thwart Liverpool fans' plans

Maybe the best way to create a 'horrible', surprise welcome for City at Anfield ahead of a big game is not to broadcast your plans all over social media.

Liverpool fans were urged to create a 'hostile' welcome with smoke grenades, pyros and a sea of red on Anfield Road as the City coaches approached the stadium like previous years. 'Let's make it horrible', the poster read, to move 11 points clear in the title race.

Liverpool fans did indeed bring their red flares to welcome their own team coach, motivating their players ahead of a big game.

But for the second year running, Liverpool fans were left disappointed as Merseyside Police escorted the City coaches through a back street and into Anfield using a back entrance, bypassing any waiting Liverpool fans and avoiding any unnecessary trouble.

As City and Liverpool fans protested peacefully alongside each other over the exploitation of supporters, it was in everybody's interests for the bus arrivals to go ahead without any trouble.

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