After Erling Haaland missed an early penalty, the Norwegian made amends with a powerful header in the 29th minute his 99th Premier League goal for City before Nico González and Jeremy Doku sealed a dominant victory in the second half.

The result lifted City to second place with 22 points after 11 games, while Liverpool last season’s champions slipped to eighth, having won only one of their past five league matches.

Guardiola praised his side’s control and creativity, especially in the first half.

“We were really good, especially before halftime,” he said. “This group of players makes everything possible. I just try to give them an environment to shine.”

City’s opener came after Haaland rose above Ibrahima Konaté to meet Matheus Nunes’ curling cross, erasing the memory of his earlier miss from the spot. His celebration a karate kick to the corner flag summed up City’s intensity.

González doubled the lead moments before the break when his 20-yard effort deflected off Virgil van Dijk and left Giorgi Mamardashvili stranded. Doku then added a spectacular third, cutting inside and curling a precise shot into the top corner in the 63rd minute to cap his best performance yet in a City shirt.

“In big games, you feel the pressure and beauty,” Doku told Sky Sports afterward. “I just wanted to help the team. Playing here, with these teammates, makes me push harder every game.”

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk admitted his side failed to impose their trademark pressing game.

“Our front line couldn’t press effectively. City created overloads at the back and controlled the tempo,” he said. “We need more consistency 3-0 hurts.”

Despite a disallowed goal that could have changed the game, Van Dijk refused to criticize the officials. “It doesn’t matter now. We lost that’s the reality,” he added.

For Guardiola, the night carried extra significance as he celebrated his 1,000th managerial appearance a career spanning spells at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and City.

“To do this milestone here, in Manchester, is special,” he said. “It’s about the people who have worked with me staff, players, and families. This team always finds new energy to compete.”

The win extended City’s unbeaten run to four matches in all competitions, including a 4-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League midweek. They head into the international break with confidence restored and the title race firmly alive.

Liverpool, meanwhile, face a critical reset period as they slip further from the top four. Manager Arne Slot will have two weeks to regroup before their next fixture against Aston Villa.

With Arsenal still leading the table, City’s emphatic display was a reminder both to their rivals and themselves that the champions remain very much in the fight.