Liverpool suffer third successive loss as Jurgen Klopp side’s hopes of a top-four finish suffered a fresh blow.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says his Reds were lucky Manchester City stars were not greedy after they were trashed 4-1 on Saturday afternoon.
The Reds took the lead when Mohamed Salah's deft left-foot finish found the back of the net in the 17th minute following a superb counterattack.
But the Premier League reigning champions responded in style when Jack Grealish made a crucial interception on Salah - who was close to doubling Liverpool’s lead - before crossing the ball for World Cup winner Julian Alvarez to make it 1-1 in the 27th minute.
In the second half, the hosts stepped up a notch and took the lead just after 53 seconds as Riyad Mahrez's cross found City midfield maestro Kevin de Bruyne, who tapped home from close range.
And from there on, City took complete control of the game, with goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Jack Grealish wrapping up a 4-1 win over the Merseyside club at the Etihad.
As they say, truth crushed to earth shall rise again and the truth was City were levels above Liverpool, who have now suffered their third loss on the trot following their 7-0 win over Manchester United.
'We were lucky City weren't in a greedy mood'
Liverpool boss Klopp told BT Sport after the match: "I think we saw what we expected in the first half, a dominant City side with us organised, had our moments. When we played we were really in the game and caused them some problems as well, and scored a wonderful goal. We had another big counter-attacking moment where we could have played it better.
"So 1-1 at half-time. We can show the boys what to do, and where to defend them because the key areas are clear. If we don't defend the double six we have a real problem. If we don't defend the double 10 - Gundogan and De Bruyne - then it is pretty much impossible because the pitch becomes too big.
"We concede this first goal with I think an open ball in midfield where we don't even have a challenge then we are too deep and the counter-attack happens great play. 2-1.
"3-1 we have a massive overload on one side, should win the ball but don't even have a challenge. These kinds of things cannot happen. But they happened and after that... wow! We just had to follow as they did whatever they wanted. We were lucky they weren't in a greedy mood.
"About from that, there is nothing good top say about this game. This is a game we have to use unfortunately and make clear which things cannot happen. We cannot have challenges in key areas or be that open. Now I stand here and have to explain it but I cannot explain it.
"I cannot change it now, here, I can just report what I saw and we will talk about it tomorrow. These things happened too often."
Gakpo - 'We have to be consistent'
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo issued a rallying cry to his teammates, asking them to be consistent as they get ready for their next match against Chelsea at the Etihad on Tuesday.
The Dutchman said: "It speaks for itself that we are frustrated. We know what we can do and when we don't do it and lose the game, everybody is frustrated.
"I think we conceded really quick in the second half, two quick goals and it is difficult to bounce back from that. We have to analyse that and see how we can improve it.
"City is a strong side but I think we also showed in moments that we are also a really strong side but we have to be consistent."