“SHOW them the way to go home,” sang the Liverpool fans as they filed out of the Kop several minutes after the final whistle. It’s a song reserved for convincing, important victories, and one which lets the opposition know they have been on the end of a hiding.

With the quality they have in their ranks, even without first-choice goalkeeper Ederson and star central defender Aymeric Laporte, Manchester City fans may not have expected to hear it sung in their direction. 

But as City manager Pep Guardiola looked first to the fourth official Mike Dean and then to the heavens in search of a penalty after the ball hit Trent Alexander-Arnold’s arm in the box for the second time in the game, he and the fans knew the game was over, and the game was lost.

City remain the last team to defeat Liverpool in the Premier League when Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane helped them to a 2-1 win at Eastlands in January, but they haven’t won at Anfield since May 2003.

This game felt similar to the first leg of the Champions League tie between the two on Merseyside back in 2018 when Liverpool ran out 3-0 winners. Guardiola referenced it in his post-match press conference and admitted it had been on his mind. 

He also discussed ways to beat a Jurgen Klopp side, concluding that the best way for his side is to “try to play the game, to create chances as we created today. We decided to do it that way because it’s the way we won two Premier Leagues in a row and seven titles in two, three seasons.”

Anfield may have had that Champions League win in mind too. It roared as if this were a European night and, at this time of year, late afternoon games can feel like night games. The home crowd were as lively as their team, who wasted no time asserting their superiority.

Ilkay Gundogan’s poor clearance following a Liverpool counter-attack fell to the feet of Fabinho who lashed home his second goal for the club. This was followed up by a ruthless counter-attacking goal instigated by Alexander-Arnold, created by Andy Robertson and finished by the head of Mohamed Salah.

Klopp said he’d never seen a goal like it, but Liverpool are getting used to this kind of world-class interplay between their two full-backs. 

Aside from his goal, some of Salah’s play was sumptuous. Anfield cheered as if the Egyptian had found the net for a second time when his skill and movement left Gundogan and Raheem Sterling chasing his shadow.

City created chances but Liverpool found a third before their opponents found a first. Jordan Henderson started the second half where he had left off in the first, finding space down the right and sending in a perfect cross for Sadio Mane.

A late rendition of “where’s your famous atmosphere” from the City fans showed their sense of humour even at 3-0 down, as said atmosphere had helped Liverpool just as it had hindered the visitors in those intense early moments.

“I loved the atmosphere,” said Klopp.

“It was incredible, just amazing, and against an outstandingly strong opponent.”

City fans were given some hope when Angelino’s cross found Bernardo Silva to make it 3-1 but, despite City’s late surge, Liverpool battened down the hatches and saw the game out.

Guardiola was gracious in defeat and refused to be drawn into speaking about the officials.

“It’s uncomfortable for me because [if I discuss decisions] it would look like ‘Pep complains.’ Congratulations Liverpool,” he said.

“We are a club who only started to be in the elite in the last decade, not like Liverpool — You’ll Never Walk Alone, 30, 40, 50, 60 years [in the elite] — this organisation is going to help us to grow, and these games are part of life.”

City sit fourth, nine points behind Liverpool, with Chelsea and Leicester ahead of them. They face Frank Lampard’s side after the international break in what now feels like a very important game and one in which they will need to reassert their dominance, not just in the title race, but in the top four.

For Liverpool it’s the fairytale start, but as Klopp says: “Who wants to be first in early November? You want to be first in May.”