Pep Guardiola insisted that Phil Foden is still learning but he praised his midfielder, who he sees as a “huge talent”.
Neither side fully hit their stride in the first half. But it was Liverpool who were the better side. Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino both had good chances before the half-hour mark.
City were gifted an opportunity to take the lead as Raheem Sterling was brought down by Fabinho in the penalty area. Michael Oliver pointed to the spot and Ilkay Gundogan stepped up to take. The in-form midfielder made a mess of it though as he fired the ball over the bar.
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As disappointing as City were in the first half, they more than made up for it in the final 45 minutes. They started the second half brightly and they took the lead in the 49th-minute. Ilkay Gundogan tapped home from close range after Alisson saved Phil Foden’s shot.
With half an hour to go, Ruben Diaz brought Mo Salah down in the area after he stumbled in possession. The Eqyptian smashed the ball into the roof of the net to equalise.
A shocking few minutes from Alisson gifted Man City the victory, though. He gave the ball away twice before Gundogan tapped home after Foden dribbled past his markers.
In the 76th-minute, another Alisson error handed City their third. He gave the ball away to Bernardo Silva, who chipped it across the goalline for Raheem Sterling to head home.
Foden made it four via a piece of individual brilliance. He cut in from the right-hand side before firing a vicious effort that flew in past Alisson.
This result moves Man City five points clear at the top of the league with a game in hand. Speaking with Sky Sports post-match, as cited by BBC Sport, Guardiola said the change in set up in the second half altered his side’s fortunes:
“We played in the way you have to suffer here. Hopefully next time we can win here with people. Anfield is always impressive but with people it is much more.
“Huge victory for us. Three more points at the end but I take into consideration the fact we won after we missed a penalty and conceded a goal but the way we reacted… that made the difference.
“We started really well. We cannot play like they play, we have to play in a slow rhythm. Second half we adjusted our set up and the quality of the players did the rest.
“Phil Foden is a guy who keeps the ball really well, he arrives so aggressive but he is also still so young. When he plays wide it is more easy for him, he will learn. The action for the second goal and the fourth goal, we know what a huge talent he is but he is still young and hopefully he can understand he can still improve.
“It is an important win but it is February. Of course the gap to fifth is big right now and that means for the Champions League for next season is important but 10 wins in a row in this period is something exceptional. Today is the time to talk about this but tomorrow we look to the next game.”
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