A ten-man Liverpool were comprehensively beaten 5-0 by Manchester City.

Sergio Aguero capitalised on slack defending in the first half when he latched onto a Kevin de Bruyne through ball before slotting past Simon Mignolet.

Jurgen Klopp’s side later went a man down as Sadio Mane was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on City goalkeeper Ederson.

Gabriel Jesus added a second just before half time and grabbed his brace shortly after the break as the hosts took full advantage of a stretched Reds.

Substitute Leroy Sane added the gloss on an emphatic City victory, turning home a cross before adding a sumptuous left-footed effort from distance in added time.

Here were the key talking points from the Etihad Stadium:

Mane ban paves the way for Coutinho

 

Philippe Coutinho’s wait for a Liverpool return has taken a shock fast-tracking.

With Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah on song in Arsenal’s thrashing, fears of how the Reds would fare without Coutinho had been eased.

However Mane’s looming suspension, for an overzealous challenge on Ederson, has allowed the Brazilian an unlikely comeback opportunity.

It will be interesting to see how quickly Coutinho is re-integrated into the side following a summer-long saga with Barcelona and various injuries.

Reds haunted by familiar frailties

 

Questions must be asked about City’s rout but in particular a first goal where Liverpool’s centre-backs were not even in the same postal district.

Both Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan were guilty of absentia when Fernandinho nodded the ball to Kevin de Bruyne for Sergio Aguero’s simplest of finishes.

It should have become a containment operation for the visitors after being reduced to 10 men but they still allowed Pep Guardiola’s side to run riot.

You have to wonder how many times the failure to sign Virgil van Dijk, rather than just talking about it, will come back to haunt Klopp this season.

Tough game for Trent

 

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s sparkling start to his senior Anfield career could not spare him a tough first half at the Etihad that found him regularly beaten.

He earned a yellow card after De Bruyne rounded him near the penalty area and what few chances came after the third goal also emanated from his side.

The general pace of this game overwhelmed him, culminating in City’s fourth of the afternoon came from yet another cross on the right.

While the full back has had a bright start to the season, this was a harsh reminder that he is not yet the finished article and there is still work to do.

50-50s aren’t what they used to be

 

Sadio Mane’s sending off was undoubtedly the major talking point of this game.

Jon Moss’ contentious ruling demonstrated just how far the game has evolved since Nigel De Jong’s kung-fu kick on Xabi Alonso went unpunished in 2010.

There is certainly a debate to be had about how in-control Mane was of his own decision to pursue the ball in the face of an advancing Ederson.

But given the Liverpool winger’s pace, he was more than within his right, even if that half-second of lateness cost both him – and his side- very dearly.