This is a familiar image in the technical area at Etihad. Arne Slot dressed simply, could not stand still, continuously hugged his head in despair and almost did not let the fourth referee have a moment of rest.
In stark contrast, in the stands, Pep Guardiola sat next to his daughter Maria with a relaxed look, as if enjoying a light working day.
Outside the touchline, for Slot, this is a heavy defeat. The helplessness is clearly shown in every gesture and scolding, when the worst seems to be happening to Liverpool at the same time this season.
In the first 30 minutes, Liverpool was the sharper team, but Mohamed Salah continuously missed clear opportunities. And like many other times this season, wasting opportunities cost them a heavy price.
This is the first match in a 5-match streak in 15 days - a period that could decide Slot's future. And the start could not be worse.
Man City quickly punished the opponent's mistakes with top-notch attacking form. Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick with a cold penalty, an accurate header and a powerful volley.
However, Liverpool's biggest problem is not only missing opportunities, but also the lack of decisiveness in defense. Their entire performance shows alarming fatigue.
This makes the team's leadership worried, especially in the context that they still have major challenges ahead, from the European arena to the top 4 race. The numbers about the opportunities created cannot hide The Kop's lack of bravery.
The image of a team that once won the Premier League is now just a shadow of itself. Salah - who was expected - had another forgettable match when he missed many opportunities, including a penalty being saved. Virgil van Dijk was also no better when he made a mistake leading to the first goal conceded and showed a decline in both fitness and spirit.
After Haaland's opening goal from the penalty spot, the "Reds" were almost lost. No reaction, no resistance - both on the field and in the stands.
They accepted fate when Man City continuously scored more goals. Even the away team's fans no longer showed anger or expectations.
When the match ended, Guardiola celebrated while Slot walked towards the empty stands to applaud in gratitude. Among the 8,000 Liverpool fans present, only very few remained to the end.
If this is the start of the key stage of the season, then it is a gloomy start for Liverpool.
Not only stopping at defense, finishing is still Liverpool's fatal weakness. There are things that have been missing for most of the season, which is the ability to convert opportunities into goals. In the first half, we had chances but could not take advantage of them" - Slot admitted.
