Premier League football returned on Saturday but it was a familiar feeling for Liverpool fans away from home as Manchester City became the latest side to inflict misery.
It almost felt like the tide could turn when Mohamed Salah curled beyond Ederson to give the Reds the lead. But once the ball went out wide to Jack Grealish who slid across to Julian Alvarez to equalise, old wounds were reopened.
There have been low points in this dismal campaign and yesterday afternoon's outing at the Etihad Stadium was just another chapter. Within a minute of the restart, their 45 minutes of hard work came undone with Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Jack Grealish all on target extending a miserable run in east Manchester for Liverpool.
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Results continue to go against them and the draw between Brighton & Hove Albion with Brentford saw them leapfrog Jurgen Klopp's side to close in on the European places as Aston Villa stunned Chelsea to move just one point off the Reds.
Naturally, the national media has had plenty to say about the weekend's stand-out fixture. Here's a round-up of what they reported - along with the Liverpool ECHO's Liverpool correspondent Paul Gorst's verdict - as Manchester City silenced any doubts without Erling Haaland.
The Telegraph - Sam Wallace
Without Haaland, between them Grealish and Mahrez were nonetheless exceptional. The right-footed Grealish coming off the left and the left-footed Mahrez coming off the right, they made what was once the great full-back pairing in the league – Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson – look very ordinary indeed. When Grealish was substituted in the 89th minute it was to rapturous applause and the strong sense that as this City team evolves he is a big part of what comes next.
This was a City masterclass of optimising space and time and moving an opponent who has coped well with them in the past into positions that Liverpool did not want to find themselves. There were 10 of the Liverpool players that started against Manchester United in that 7-0 win in March and yet for the most part they looked lost against City. Jurgen Klopp would later say that only his two central midfielders Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, as well as Cody Gakpo and goalkeeper Alisson were anywhere near the standard required.
The Daily Mail - Oliver Holt
Liverpool, who now face games against Chelsea and Arsenal in quick succession, stayed with City in the first half but the way they struggled in the second half was sobering.
This is the side that matched City every step of the way last season and lost the title by a single point to them. But they are much diminished. It is as if the gargantuan effort of the battle with City last season sapped them of the energy for the fight this season. City, though, march on.
Liverpool were heralded as kingmakers when they arrived at the Etihad, the team that could hand the title to Arsenal with a victory against their old foes, but while everyone was trying to work out what formation City were playing – John Stones and Rodri played in front of a back three – Guardiola’s side made the better start.
The Guardian - Barney Ronay
Liverpool scored the first goal against the head, a wonderful finish from Salah. But Guardiola was already out on his touchline, dressed for the occasion in springtime black, and performing that familiar lunging movement, a man casting off a fly-fishing rod while simultaneously stretching out a tight thigh, a gesture that tells his players to pass wider and longer.
Guardiola knew two things here. First that Liverpool would try to play on the break. And second that City would score by playing those diagonal passes in behind Liverpool’s full-backs. The equaliser came this way, made by a wonderful long pass from Álvarez.
And really, you do wonder how much longer before this GCSE version of how to beat Liverpool is finally addressed. It feels too easy, goals planned on the back of an envelope three days in advance, like falling for a haymaker every time. Liverpool are meant to be better than this.
BBC Sport - Phil McNulty
Liverpool have been the shadow on Manchester City's shoulder in the title races of recent times - now they are simply a shadow of the side that chased a historic quadruple last season.
Jurgen Klopp's team may occasionally show their former selves, like in the 7-0 demolition of Manchester United, but too often this season they have been mediocre and now they face a fight to finish in the top four.
The midfield pairing of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho look tired and vulnerable and Virgil van Dijk has lost much of his old authority at the heart of the defence.
Alexander-Arnold had another dismal 90 minutes and Andrew Robertson, his full-back partner on the other side, did not fare much better. Both were left exposed and City took full toll.
Much is made of Liverpool's pursuit of Jude Bellingham but even if they are successful against opposition from many of Europe's elite, the idea that the brilliant teenager will cure all their ills is a delusion.
Klopp looked, in turns, furious and bemused at Liverpool's rank bad defending, lack of intensity and the manner in which they were over-powered - but given their previous form this season, he should not have been that surprised.
Liverpool ECHO - Paul Gorst
Twelve months ago, a walk to the away end of Manchester City's Etihad Stadium would prove to be the catalyst for Jurgen Klopp to sign a new contract at Liverpool.
Subsequent conversations in the kitchen of his Formby home with wife Ulla, who was in the Reds' end on April 10 last year, resulted in a Klopp family agreement about putting pen to paper for a further two years.
It was a decision that the boss has since indicated was fuelled by his desire to go again; to keep Liverpool exactly where they stood in world football at that time, as one of the very best on the continent.
Flash forward a year and Klopp made that same trot across the pitch at full time having had the daunting task that now confronts him presented in unflattering HD.
The need for a major overhaul has never been more apparent. Having been swatted aside across two legs with Real Madrid, which finished 6-2 on aggregate, the Reds were again humbled by another Champions League hopeful of equal quality. Once more, Liverpool slumped to an embarrassing defeat.
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