Liverpool rout Man City as the Klopp magic takes effect

Manchester City 1 - Liverpool 4

A furious Manuel Pellegrini tore into his Man City players after they were thrashed at home by Liverpool, as Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool made a stunning statement of Premier League intent.

Klopp has been credited with installing a new attitude at Anfield, but until now results had not reflected that. But things were very different on Saturday evening as a rampant Liverpool side tore Man City to pieces.

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Eight of the Liverpool side were part of the team that was humbled at Old Trafford earlier in the season. But things were very different on their return to Manchester.

"Everything about the Liverpool team at the Etihad Stadium was new," says Chris Bascombe of the Daily Telegraph. "Where there was doubt there is now belief – soaring, uncontainable belief."

The Reds roared into a three goal lead in the first half and ran out 4-1 winners. It was the first time City have conceded four at home in the Premier League since February 2003 when they were hammered 5-1 by Arsenal at Maine Road.

"It was a complete disaster, the whole team," raged Pellegrini. "I am more than angry, it is unbelievable the performance we had. I have never seen this team play in the way they did."

And he is right. As the last time City shipped four goals in any competition at home was in 2012 under Roberto Mancini (when they lost 4-2 to Aston Villa in the League Cup).

"It was a fake night, a fake game," added a bewildered Pellegrini. "It is difficult to understand."

It went wrong from the start for City with Eliaquim Mangala putting into his net on seven minutes and then Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino adding two further goals in the space of ten minutes. A stunned Etihad couldn't believe what they were seeing, and the Liverpool faithful who had made the short journey were similarly bemused given that in their last league game their boys had lost at home to Crystal Palace.

Sergio Aguero did pull a goal back for the hosts just before half-time, and in doing so he took his Premier League tally to 85, making him the top-scoring South American player in Premier League history.

But Liverpool weren't finished and a Martin Skrtel screamer made it 4-1 nine minutes from time. The victory lifts Liverpool into ninth and manager Jurgen Klopp was as delighted as his City counterpart was despondent. "It feels perfect," exclaimed the German before quickly correcting himself. "The game was not perfect but it was very good. We played with big passion and that's the most important thing for us."

But Klopp, who replaced Brendan Rodgers as coach at the start of October, knows that his side have to start replicating the form they showed against City on a regular basis. "Two weeks ago we lost the game against Crystal Palace, now we have taken those points back," he explained. "The good news is that we can do better. We have quality, we could have more goals. The boys can believe now that they are stronger than many people think."

The result, coupled with Leicester's 3-0 win over Newcastle, means that the Foxes are now leading the Premier League, with 28 points, one more than Manchester United (who beat Watford) and two better than City and Arsenal, who went down 2-1 away at West Bromwich Albion.