Liverpool have made mince meat of Manchester City this season, currently sitting a staggering 22 points ahead of Pep Guardiola’s side in the Premier League table.
Manchester City’s run of four-straight Premier League titles is set to come to a crashing end this season, as Pep Guardiola’s ageing, misfiring side now battles for 4th place and an FA Cup.
In his first season at Anfield, Arne Slot looks set to steer the Reds to the Premier League title, with Liverpool having beaten Man City 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium earlier in the year, to remind City of just how much they’ve fallen.
Where the problems stem from for City remains largely up for debate. This season has almost been a perfect storm of players ageing and new signings not bedding in as quickly as may have been hoped, and maybe also in certain player sales last summer.
Notably, Julian Alvarez moved on. Man City sold Alvarez to Atletico Madrid for a sizeable £82million transfer fee and the Argentine has since flourished, with 23 goals and five assists in all competitions this season. City signed Alvarez from River Plate for just £14million in 2022.
Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Liverpool shortlisted Julian Alvarez at Manchester City last summer
And as it turns out, Liverpool were among those to have shown an interest in the 25-year-old Alvarez last summer. Fabrizio Romano has confirmed to GIVEMESPORT that Slot’s side shortlisted the former City man before he left for Atletico, also playing down the chances of Liverpool making a move for him this summer.
More Man City News
Romano says: “He was on their shortlist last summer, for sure. Now he’s happy at Atletico and he signed for them just 9 months ago, so nothing concrete at this stage. We will see.” Alvarez scored against Real Madrid in the Champions League a few weeks ago, not long after the Galacticos had knocked Man City out of the Champions League.
In January, Manchester City signed Omar Marmoush for £59.2million in a bid to replace the goals that Alvarez would’ve scored this season. Marmoush scored a good goal against Brighton last time out with four in seven Premier League games for City so far.
Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Former England star tips Julian Alvarez to win a Ballon d’Or
Alvarez has certainly turned heads in La Liga and in the Champions League this season, with his well-taken goal in the first leg of the Champions League tie against Madrid earning plaudits.
One such plaudit was Joe Cole. Speaking on TNT after the game Cole backed Alvarez to win a Ballon d’Or one day, saying: “This kid has won it all and done it all and he’s still only 25. I think we see the best of him over the next five years. I think he’s a Ballon d’Or winner in the future.”
If he goes on to do so then it will rub salt in City wounds. Guardiola and co made a bad decision to cash in on Alvarez but their situation meant they had to make some kind of big money player sale.
And if he does return to England with Liverpool then it’ll even more frustrating for City, as Alvarez could fire Liverpool to more domestic titles.