City deliver ‘incredible’ gift for Guardiola’s landmark

The universe had decided that Liverpool would be the opponents on Pep Guardiola’s landmark day, he had said. And for the manager who changed the footballing world, there may have been no more gratifying way to enter the 1,000 club. It was a grand day for Guardiola, in every sense.

- By RICHARD JOLLY AT ETIHAD STADIUM

Manchester City 3
Haaland (29), Nico González (45+3), Doku (63)

Liverpool 0

Guardiola’s first 999 games had contained victories over many a manager, but not Arne Slot. The Dutchman had a done a double over the Catalan and taken his Premier League title. A third meeting was chastening for a coach influenced and inspired by his Manchester City counterpart. This became one of Guardiola’s most emphatic wins in an enduring duel. “The players and staff give me an incredible present with the most important opponent we play in my 10 years here,” he said. “It was a special night with my kids here.”

But it was a wretched afternoon for Slot. It equalled his heaviest defeat as Liverpool manager; they have both come in the last four matches. This was a seventh defeat in 10 games, a fifth in the Premier League. The numbers do not paint a pretty picture.

If Liverpool could feel themselves luckless in the first half, they could not simply chalk this down to decisions and deflections. “I would like to emphasise that being 2-0 down at halftime was a fair reflection of how the game went,” said Slot. The conquerors of Real Madrid were second best at the Etihad. There was a purposeful, forceful feel to City, who claimed a 3-0 win.