Image Credits: Imago Images
Manchester City delivered a commanding 3-0 performance against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, with the victory marking Pep Guardiola’s 1,000th match in management in emphatic fashion.
The defending champions’ hopes of a quick bounce-back following wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid came to an abrupt halt at the Etihad, where they found themselves outclassed by a City side operating with the fluidity and precision that has defined Guardiola’s tenure.
The afternoon began with drama at both ends of the pitch.
A lengthy VAR review determined that Giorgi Mamardashvili had fouled Jeremy Doku in the City penalty area within the opening fifteen minutes, awarding the hosts a spot-kick.
However, Liverpool’s Georgian goalkeeper showed his mettle, diving low to his left to deny Erling Haaland from twelve yards—a moment that offered brief respite to the traveling Reds support.
Liverpool believed they had found an immediate response when captain Virgil van Dijk connected from a Mohamed Salah corner kick, thumping a header that beat Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Yet an offside flag from the assistant referee and subsequent VAR review determined that Andy Robertson, positioned in an offside position, had interfered with play.
The result leaves Liverpool eighth in the Premier League standings, eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal and now boasting five league defeats from their opening eleven matches.
But despite the defeat, Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Conor Bradley, who has the unenviable task of marking Jeremy Doku in the clash
“Conor Bradley from Liverpool, I am really impressed,” the Spaniard said as quoted by Lewis Steele.
“Pep Lijnders told me a thousand incredible things about him, he can do everything.”
“Against Madrid and Vinicius Jr, wow. And so Jeremy Doku played an outstanding game.”
Club football now pauses for the international break, with Liverpool facing Nottingham Forest at Anfield on the 22nd of November.
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