2 weeks ago
16
1,000th game
©IMAGO
As the Last Post reverberated around the Etihad Stadium with flawless execution on Remembrance Sunday, one could be forgiven for thinking the bugler playing the tune didn't have a 'Pep' talk from Pep Guardiola himself. After all, this is a manager who strives for perfection - and usually gets it. Taking charge of his 1,000th managerial game, Manchester City against Liverpool, offered the suitable setting for such a special occasion for the Catalan tactician. Instead of playing it down, he embraced it.
Guardiola has taken charge of Champions League finals, a couple dozen Clasicos and plenty more games with high magnitude. But facing Liverpool at home, with his new-era City side, felt like another milestone in itself. The two superpowers that once were, both scrambling to keep apace with Arsenal, knowing that a defeat could be fatal to their hopes of collecting the title. But quite simply, he was never losing this game as he watched his side record a surprisingly comfortable 3-0 win to close the gap to the Premier League leaders.
The fact that it was Liverpool who had the opportunity to ruin his momentous day was somewhat apt given their fascinating rivalry since he took charge in July 2016. Arne Slot, of course, was facing a day of reckoning after four defeats in five, but the Dutchman appeared to have halted the slide with back-to-back wins. Guardiola had his own score to settle with Slot, given he had won both of their previous two meetings. Going into the game, the Reds boss was one of five managers to hold a 100 per cent record against Guardiola. The others? Paul Cook, Nathan Jones, Thiago Motta and Achim Beierlorzer. Something to put up on the mantlepiece for those four bosses as they may never meet again. But for Slot, he would've accepted that somewhere down the line, Guardiola would exact his revenge.
As it happened, City were ready to deliver the knockout punch almost from the first whistle. Jérémy Doku had already danced gracefully into the Liverpool box on a couple of occasions and he took full advantage of a rare mix-up from Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté before he was clipped by Giorgi Mamardashvili's knee. After a VAR review, referee Chris Kavanagh pointed to the spot and Erling Haaland - in electric form with 13 goals in 10 games - was surely never going to miss. Except, he did. Mamardashvili redeemed himself, getting down to his left and palming away the Norwegian's tepid effort.
Van Dijk thought he had made amends in the 38th minute with a fantastic towering header, only for the flag to go up against Andy Robertson. The Scot was in the flight path of the ball and ducked before it flew into the net past Gianluigi Donnarumma. But the visitors' celebrations were cut short when they realised the assistant referee had his flag up. After a brief review, Kavanagh sided with his colleague and it remained 1-0, much to Slot's ire. But there was more anger to come and it was a familiar case of Liverpool simply not defending how they should. Nico González tried his luck from 20 yards and his effort would've probably bounced into Mamardashvili's gloves had Van Dijk not thrown a lazy leg in front of it. In doing so, the Dutchman diverted the ball beyond his goalkeeper and City were two goals to the good.
On another day with a different referee, it might've been 2-1. That moment was definitely a turning point, but Liverpool's usual reaction to going behind was muted. While Cody Gakpo missed a sitter from six yards, Doku continued his storming individua display, beating Konate with a quick burst and smashing a curling strike in from 25 yards. It was 3-0 and all of a sudden, Liverpool were having to keep one eye on damage limitation to ensure they didn't fall to a heavy defeat. Florian Wirtz was stifled, Mohamed Salah frustrated, Hugo Ekitiké anonymous and Alexander Isak remained on the bench. Liverpool's attacking riches couldn't rescue Slot from another damaging defeat.
But in the other dugout, a hooded Guardiola would've been delighted with the efforts from his players. Approaching his 10-year anniversary, the 54-year-old remains one of the most difficult coaches to beat and for all of the barbs aimed at his side that they rely too much on Haaland, this was an outstanding team performance, one that certainly offers hope of at least competing for - and perhaps winning - a 13th domestic league title in his wonderful managerial career.
