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On the event of , Manchester Metropolis made their very own collective landmark assertion: they didn’t a lot beat the champions Liverpool, they blew them away.
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In doing in order that they fittingly acknowledged Guardiola’s achievement, reached on the age of simply 54, with the model of soccer that typifies him and with an exciting opening aim that epitomised the fantasy soccer he craves.
And Guardiola knew. His pleasure afterwards was unbridled, wanting like a giddy younger supervisor making his manner reasonably than one who has received the lot. A number of instances over.
By way of being re-energised, this aspect – and Guardiola himself – appear like they’ve had essentially the most unimaginable increase and a complete reboot.
In time this may even go down because the Jérémy Doku recreation. In soccer parlance the winger was unplayable as he left Liverpool full-back Conor Bradley bewildered and damaged by his skilful and direct operating. He then capped it with a shocking aim which led to the Metropolis followers reverting to the outdated “Poznan” celebration.
By way of total efficiency it will rank extremely in that prolonged pantheon of Guardiola’s 716 wins and incredible achievements at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and with Metropolis. “We dwell for video games like this,” Metropolis defender Rúben Dias later mentioned. It appeared prefer it.
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At instances it was a match of unmatched attacking soccer and Metropolis milked it by singing “Metropolis will tear you aside once more” – to the tune of Pleasure Division’s largest hit – on the closing whistle.
There was even a lap of appreciation, with Guardiola hugging his gamers, not least a smiling Phil Foden, and it didn’t seem excessive or untimely. Not after taking part in like this.
There was even a quick chant of “sacked within the morning” from the gloating Metropolis followers, geared toward Arne Slot, and as preposterous as that sounds, the Liverpool head coach didn’t seem to have any options on the sodden touchline.
At instances appear like a workforce anticipating issues to occur reasonably than making them occur, and this was their heaviest league defeat beneath Slot.
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Arsenal’s Premier League title to lose? Not with Metropolis on this irrepressible kind. They’re 4 factors behind the leaders going into the ultimate worldwide break of the yr and we all know they’ve course and distance on this race. For certain Arsenal will probably be feeling the new breath on their shoulders and, as strong as they’re, they know the place the momentum all of the sudden lies.
Liverpool are eight factors from the summit and on the finish of per week when it appeared like their kind was returning, together with a powerful Champions League victory over Actual Madrid, they merely couldn’t cope.
They’ve misplaced 5 of their final six league video games – greater than they did in final season’s total marketing campaign. Despite the fact that 4 of the losses have been away from residence, far more of this and their problem will probably be over and solely Metropolis can stand in Arsenal’s manner. On this proof, it’s unattainable to see Liverpool ending above both of these two.
Liverpool pointed to the controversy of Virgil van Dijk’s “aim” from a nook being dominated out for Andrew Robertson being offside – deemed to have impeded Gianluigi Donnarumma by ducking beneath the ball – when the rating was 1-0, however although the goalkeeper wouldn’t have reached the header they’ll, in reality, don’t have any grievance.
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It was definitely not the turning level Liverpool claimed it was, with Slot arguing it ought to have been allowed but additionally magnanimous sufficient to confess being 2-0 down at half-time was a “honest reflection”.
There was virtually one other landmark, with Erling Haaland turning into the quickest to succeed in 100 Premier League targets, however though he did rating – with a towering header after a mesmerising passing transfer – he had a penalty saved after (yet one more) foul on Doku. For now Haaland is on 99 targets from 108 video games and has 16 extra matches to beat Alan Shearer’s document. The longest he has ever gone and not using a league aim is 4 video games.
By the way, in a weird quirk, Metropolis have now missed 4 of their final 5 penalties in opposition to Liverpool. However this time it didn’t matter.
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The penalty was awarded after a VAR verify which deemed Mamardashvili had caught Doku and adopted Bradley and Konaté panicking and making a large number of a clearance because the Belgium worldwide bore down on them. It confirmed the impact he was having.
Haaland’s header, and never being distracted because the cross glanced off Konaté, who jumped in entrance of him, opened the scoring and got here on the finish of a 19-pass sequence that began with Foden deep on the left and near the Metropolis byline, and ended with Matheus Nunes crossing from, diagonally, the opposite aspect of the pitch.
Haaland ran and kicked the nook flag – within the model of Zlatan Ibrahimovic – and Liverpool have been pole-axed.
It epitomised their dominance and intent, however they wanted Nico González so as to add a deserved second in first-half harm time, teed up by Bernardo Silva, when his low drive clipped off Van Dijk and wrong-footed Mamardashvili. González has was a greater than ready understudy to Rodri and that, additionally, is making a big distinction.
Liverpool appeared like they’d been scolded within the dressing room and have been much better within the second half – they frankly couldn’t be a lot worse – and had probabilities. Mohamed Salah did not take the perfect of them as he ran clear, solely to flick the ball past the far publish. It could have been no comfort, but it surely captured how fitful Salah and Liverpool have been this marketing campaign.
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By then Doku had capped all of it with a beautiful aim as he shifted the ball to his proper foot and powered a curling shot into the nook of the online from exterior the penalty space. He was substituted to a well-merited standing ovation. Metropolis, as an entire, additionally merited the identical acclaim.
07:28pm
And at last: Pep Guardiola speaks to Sky Sports activities
I loved it lots. They gave me an excellent current, the gamers, with this efficiency in opposition to the champions. They did it defensively and plenty of, many, many good issues occurred on the highest degree, all of them.
Liverpool have been higher within the second half, our efficiency dropped somewhat bit however I used to be happy [about] all the things.
Defensively we have been good in opposition to the qualities of Mo and Ekitike. We had good power with our individuals and the vibe from our followers was unimaginable.
In soccer you can’t management while you lose the ball and within the second half they have been extra aggressive. I discuss concerning the idea of profitable the duels on a regular basis while you win the duel you retain the ball and go the ball. All three midfield gamers gave us management, performed quite a lot of passes, the centre defenders, and the specter of Jeremy was excellent together with Erling.
The suitable-back Connor may be very fast, I noticed him in opposition to Vinicius, so I feel [Jeremy] had a very good recreation.
07:11pm
Arne Slot speaks to Sky Sports activities
It was a really, very, very tough first half for us. They have been urgent us actually excessive and have been excellent in ball possession. We struggled within the first half and you might be hoping that on the finish of that, 1-0 behind. After which in the previous few minutes there have been influential [moments, the disallowed goal and City’s second] that ended us stepping into 2-0 down as a substitute of 1-1 or 1-0.
Within the second half it was a a lot better efficiency from us however within the first half it was apparent that they have been a lot better than us.
In my view the flawed determination has been made [not to validate their equaliser] as a result of he [Robertson] was not interfering with play in any respect, with what the goalkeeper can do. Somebody after the sport confirmed me the identical referee permitting a aim for Wolves in opposition to Metropolis final season. It took the linesman 13 seconds to boost his flag to say it was offside. That would have influenced the sport in a constructive manner for us as a result of we had been so poor within the first half,
Being 2-0 down was most likely a good reflection of [how poor we were]… we’d have been fortunate stepping into a 1-1 and even 1-0. However you can’t predict [how it might have altered the outcome].
They have been higher than us. We had a number of troubles bringing the ball out from the again. Their first aim was a cross, we have been in the correct place after which we could also be unfortunate with the deflection.
It’s been an excellent tart of the week with a really dangerous finish of the week, But it surely’s a tough place to come back for everybody. Usually they have been the higher workforce. We have to enhance and I didn’t want this [result] to know that.
Final season after we have been eight factors clear it by no means felt that it was settled [the title race]. This week has given me quite a lot of positives to take into the video games after the break. It’s straightforward to give attention to the negatives however there are positives from this week as nicely.
We shouldn’t discuss concerning the the primary place, we must always give attention to our efficiency that must be higher.
06:54pm
Sky Sports activities speaks to Jérémy Doku
In large video games it’s at all times extra publicity, at all times extra lovely. I’m very blissful. It’s at all times good for the boldness. There are nice gamers who push me right here, this man [Dias], who imagine in me and provides me the sensation I need to do extra. I’m simply proud of the way in which we performed.
06:49pm
Audio verdict from the Etihad
06:48pm
A phrase from Ruben Dias
Him [the manager and whether he feels pleased for him] and everybody. I’m very blissful for him. We dwell for video games like this. No larger degree than this. Very blissful for him, very blissful for us, very blissful for everybody.
[Have you been pushing Doku to be better?] We have to push everybody. I must push him, he must push me. Everybody. These little variations, individuals able to sacrifice for the man subsequent to him, are the issues I noticed earlier than I got here right here.
This isn’t new. We’ve got been speaking lots a few rebuild since final season. It’s a part of the method. New faces however the high quality stays the identical and we maintain pushing. It’s early within the season. We maintain our ft on the bottom and maintain pushing.
06:29pm
Full time: Metropolis 3 Liverpool 0
A becoming efficiency to mark Guardiola’s one thousandth recreation in administration. They climb again to second, 4 factors behind Arsenal. Liverpool proceed to look confused when it comes to their choice and carrying too many gamers who appear drained/leggy.
06:27pm
90+3 min: Man Metropolis 3 Liverpool 0
Doku is confirmed as man of the match, which Gary Neville known as half an hour in the past.
06:25pm
90+1 min: Man Metropolis 3 Liverpool 0
Three minutes of harm time are signalled and start with Foden rolling on the ground holding his head after a shoulder barge on to the again of his cranium from Szoboszlai who’s booked for it.
06:23pm
90 min: Man Metropolis 3 Liverpool 0
Jones is booked unfairly I feel when Savinho throws himself to the turf whereas being tailed by the substitute.
06:22pm
89 min: Man Metropolis 3 Liverpool 0
One other shot from O’Reilly, this one speared vast from an acute angle.
06:21pm
87 min: Man Metropolis 3 Liverpool 0
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Loads of gleeful taunting now by Metropolis followers. On high of the “getting sacked within the morning” crowing in direction of Arne Slot, Florian Wirtz, all £116m of him, finds himself assailed by a refrain of “what a waste of cash”.
06:20pm
85 min: Man Metropolis 3 Liverpool 0
Gravenberch blocks O’Reilly after the left-back shifted the ball previous him and tried to run previous with a full bodycheck.
06:18pm
83 min: Man Metropolis 3 Liverpool 0
O’Reilly, who has had a positive recreation after seemingly hurting his calf early on, is teed up for a left-foot shot from 20 yards by Foden’s intelligent go. However he blazes over.
06:14pm
81 min: Man Metropolis 3 Liverpool 0
Salah via the inside-right after Kerkez’s 50-yard headed clearance bounces invitingly, steers a half-volleyed shot inches previous the left publish with the skin of his left boot.
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‘Sacked within the morning,’ sing the house followers to Slot.
06:12pm
79 min: Man Metropolis 3 Liverpool 0
Van Dijk’s heavy contact when a deep nook is headed again into the Metropolis field permits Donnarumma to pounce and smother it.
06:11pm
77 min: Man Metropolis 3 Liverpool 0
Szoboszlai smashes a proper foot shot from 22 yards that was arrowing in direction of the highest left nook till Donnarumma took off to his proper and batted it away with a string proper hand.
06:09pm
75 min: Man Metropolis 3 Liverpool 0
Quick break spearheaded by Nunes after choosing off a Jones go ends with Marmoush taking pictures into some red-socked shins from 18 yards after being arrange by Haaland’s cute go.
06:08pm
73 min: Man Metropolis 3 Liverpool 0
Metropolis defend the nook and Gakpo is caught offside when the ball is knocked again over to the left.
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Doku leaves the sector to a stadium on its ft. Fabulous efficiency.
Marmoush → Doku.
Jones → Mac Allister.
06:06pm
71 min: Man Metropolis 3 Liverpool 0
Szoboszlai skips over O’Reilly’s problem, drives down the correct and flays over a low cross that Nunes turns behind earlier than Gakpo can get there.
06:04pm
68 min: Man Metropolis 3 Liverpool 0
Szoboszlai grabs the hems of his shorts and screams after being penalised for fouling Doku as he tried to assist out Bradley.
06:01pm
65 min: Man Metropolis 3 Liverpool 0
Liverpool had simply loved their greatest spell with using the excessive press but it surely left them very weak to the counter and Metropolis exploited their excessive line with the flying O’Reilly and Doku combo that has uncovered Konaté all recreation.
05:57pm
GOAL!
Man Metropolis 3 Liverpool 0 Doku crowns a person of the match efficiency with a purler. One other terrific hyperlink up with O’Reilly on the skin after the left-back burst ahead to obtain a crossfield go. Doku takes the ball, shifts it to his proper, burns throughout Konaté and wraps his proper instep across the ball to fireplace it into the highest proper nook from 20 yards.
05:54pm
61 min: Man Metropolis 2 Liverpool 0
Huge likelihood for Liverpool after positive work from Bradley on the underlap down the correct. He ghosts to the byline and whips a cross via the six-yard field however Gakpo blazes over from 5 yards. Fairly a decent angle however ought to have performed a lot better.
05:52pm
59 min: Man Metropolis 2 Liverpool 0
Kerkez → RobertsonGakpo → Ekitike.
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Wirtz strikes to a false 9 position however his first fundamental contribution is a poor nook after González had hacked Bradley’s cross behind.
05:51pm
57 min: Man Metropolis 2 Liverpool 0
Doku once more runs at Bradley, twisting his blood however, having performed the toughest half, smacks his shot into Konaté. Liverpool counter and someway Gvardiol escapes a reserving for a cynical/skilled/tactical foul to spoil the counter.
05:48pm
55 min: Man Metropolis 2 Liverpool 0
Savinho → Cherki.
The sub sprints on moments earlier than Foden bends his free-kick straight into the wall. Liverpool can not clear their strains and concede one other nook.
05:47pm
54 min: Man Metropolis 2 Liverpool 0
Bradley is penalised for a foul on González after one other penetrating run from Doku. Gravenberch had a nibble on the Belgium winger however he nonetheless managed to get away. Free kick is 25 yards out, left of centre.
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Doku is terrorising Liverpool. He’s been sensible. Doku-Bradley simply not a good struggle in the mean time and it’s the Liverpool proper again who finally ends up bringing down Nico Gonzalez 22 yards out.
05:46pm
52 min: Man Metropolis 2 Liverpool 0
Donnarumma races out of his space as a beautiful Gravenberch go units Salah off behind the defensive position. Dias hares again and slides in to knock it away from Salah and the keeper however Gvardiol additionally protecting manages to mop up.
05:44pm
50 min: Man Metropolis 2 Liverpool 0
It’s tipping it down now in east Manchester. Metropolis construct up the correct with Nunes and shift it infield till Haaland’s ball not far away is picked off by Mac Allister.
05:42pm
48 min: Man Metropolis 2 Liverpool 0
Metropolis counter at pace with Doku and O’Reilly flying down the left and solely simply failing to finish a one-two to stretch the lead.
05:40pm
46 min: Man Metropolis 2 Liverpool 0
Gary Neville was advocating three half-time modifications however Slot has caught to his beginning XI. They begin at an honest lick down the correct with Salah bombing on however he’s ultimatelt crowded out within the field when making an attempt to pick Ekitike.
05:29pm
Bittersweet symphony
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For all Liverpool’s gnashing of enamel over the disallowed aim, Metropolis are good worth for this 2-0 lead. Jeremy Doku has dominated Conor Bradley at each flip, whereas the symphonic passing en path to Haaland’s header was a becoming tribute to Guardiola in his 1,000th recreation.
05:25pm
Half-time: Man Metropolis 2 Liverpool 0
Liverpool could also be grateful that they’re solely two targets down however they’re proper to be miffed by the choice that value them their ‘aim’ at 1-0 down. Robertson was harshly penalised for a misdemeanour that had no bearing on the incident. And but for the remainder of the sport Metropolis have run them ragged.
05:23pm
45+5 min: Man Metropolis 2 Liverpool 0
Neville is correct. Liverpool are so off the tempo it’s regarding for his or her followers. Whether or not they’re nonetheless knackered from beating Actual Madrid or dizzied by Metropolis’s tempo and passing, I don’t know.
05:19pm
GOAL!
Man Metropolis 2 Liverpool 0 (González) From the quick nook, Liverpool fall asleep and keep the place they’re as Metropolis stroll and shift the ball from Doku to Bernardo to Cherki who rolls it to the left of the D for González to hammer a daisycutter. Van Dijk lazily stands out his proper leg and deflects it ps his keeper.
05:18pm
45+3 min: Man Metropolis 1 Liverpool 0
Metropolis take a nook quick on the left…
05:18pm
45+2 min: Man Metropolis 1 Liverpool 0
Cherki’s twinkle toes takes the ball to the byline however his dinked cross sits uo properly for Mamardashvili as Metropolis attempt to flip the screw earlier than the break.
05:17pm
45 min: Man Metropolis 1 Liverpool 0
There will probably be seven minutes of stoppage time for the 2 VAR checks and O’Reilly’s remedy. Gary Neville argues that Liverpool look leggy and are already blowing closely, sluggish within the press.
05:14pm
42 min: Man Metropolis 1 Liverpool 0
Metropolis nook on the correct a minute after Bernardo was booked for a cynical journey. Liverpool defend it nicely.
05:12pm
No aim
Van Dijk buried the header from a nook earned by Salah. Robertson ducked to let the ball go over his head and into the correct nook however the linesman’s flag went up and VAR caught with the onfield determination.
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Slot is raging as a result of two Donnarummas weren’t saving that and he had a transparent sight of the header all the way in which from Van Dijk’s forehead to the goal-line.
05:10pm
VAR verify for Liverpool equaliser
Robertson was offside however was he interfering with play, within the keeper’s eyeline?
05:09pm
37 min: Man Metropolis 1 Liverpool 0
These cats have been quick as lightning, in reality, it was somewhat bit scary – Motion Pictures by way of Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
05:07pm
35 min: Man Metropolis 1 Liverpool 0
Yellow card for Mac Allister for chipping on the irrepressible Doku’s ankles.
05:06pm
34 min: Man Metropolis 1 Liverpool 0
Liverpool have been uncharacteristically passive. Metropolis are dominant and their technique of forcing Liverpool to make Konaté their playmaker are working nicely thus far.
05:05pm
32 min: Man Metropolis 1 Liverpool 0
Van Dijk is trying to change Liverpool’s ways and tells Robertson and Bradley that they’ll’t give Doku free rein on the left and Nunes the identical on the correct.
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Depend the passes … that’s a wondrous aim from Metropolis. It begins on their very own left by-line the place they work the ball collectively out of the tightest of areas. They don’t relinquish it thereafter earlier than Nunes crosses for Haaland to complete with an excellent header. A becoming aim for Guardiola’s one thousandth recreation
04:59pm
GOAL!
Man Metropolis 1 Liverpool 0 (Haaland) Metropolis get their simply deserts. Liverpool defending their field, depart Nunes alone vast on the correct, unmolested, inviting the cross. So he RSVPs by whipping it to the again stick and Haaland leaps above Konaté and ricochets the defender’s header again and over the keeper. O’Reilly began that breathtakingly slick transfer by his left nook flag.
04:59pm
28 min: Man Metropolis 0 Liverpool 0
Doku feints, twists and jinks as he runs at Bradley who does nicely to carry him up for some time however he nonetheless manages to slide to his left and get a shot off that Mamardashvili ideas away on the close to publish. From the breakdown from the ensuing nook, Nico González is booked for grabbing Wirtz’s collar to cease him countering at tempo.
04:56pm
26 min: Man Metropolis 0 Liverpool 0
Matheus Nunes, Foden and Bernardo hyperlink up down the correct however Liverpool’s compact form encourages Metropolis to attempt to pressure a go after some elite ball recycling and Bernardo, of all individuals, hooks it out of play.
04:55pm
24 min: Man Metropolis 0 Liverpool 0
Metropolis are urgent Van Dijk closely and rapidly, forcing him both to not be a receiver for a go from his keeper or offload it rapidly to Konaté who can’t go in addition to his captain.
04:54pm
22 min: Man Metropolis 0 Liverpool 0
O’Reilly goes to attempt to run the calf drawback off. He comes again on the pitch as Gvardiol hits the deck after one other problem with the sturdy, raw-boned Salah.
04:52pm
20 min: Man Metropolis 0 Liverpool 0
Prolonged break after O’Reilly goes down after tackling Salah. Appears to have an issue along with his proper calf.
04:49pm
17 min: Man Metropolis 0 Liverpool 0
Haaland offers the ball to Gravenberch within the centre-circle, wins it again and spins a go out to Doku who storms up the left, burning previous Szoboszlai. He squares it to Cherki who will get a shot off from 16 yards or in order that strikes a defender and goes out for a nook that Liverpool defend securely.
04:47pm
15 min: Man Metropolis 0 Liverpool 0
All Metropolis thus far and so they come again from the frustration as Haaland overcomes his deflation to assist Bernardo storm via the center. He would have been in on aim had it not been for a positive Van Dijk sort out, at which he threw all the things however the kitchen sink.
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Virgil van Dijk is imploring his team-mates to settle down after the shock of Erling Haaland’s penalty miss. Not that he was precisely innocent within the drama, stoking Metropolis’s fury by refusing handy the ball over to Ruben Dias for Haaland to take.
04:44pm
Save stands
No his preliminary motion was backwards
04:43pm
Saved!
Haaland rolls it tepidly to the correct centre of aim and Mamardashvili will get there.
However was he off his line?
Giorgi Mamardashvili saves Erling Haaland’s penalty – REUTERS/Phil Noble
04:42pm
Metropolis penalty
Doku had virtually gone the good distance around the keeper however felt the contact and faceplanted into the turf.
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Bernardo is busy guarding the penality spot, shoving Bradley away because the Liverpool defender tries to get to it, presumably to attempt to scuff it up.
04:41pm
VAR verify for a Metropolis penalty
Doku slalomed into the field from the left having bought the higher of Bradley after a longish duel. Mamardashvili slid in on his knees and appears tp catch him along with his knee on his toe.
VAR asks the referee to take a re-evaluation – Sky Sports activities
04:39pm
9 min: Man Metropolis 0 Liverpool 0
Salah surprises O’Reilly along with his tempo when Ekitike rolls a brief go to the winger. Ekitike benefiting from Gvardiol letting the ball bounce. However Donnarumma raced out to assist.
04:38pm
7 min: Man Metropolis 0 Liverpool 0
Foden is put clear via forward of Van Dijk by a splendidly weighted Doku go from the inside-left to inside-right channels however Foden’s management is unusually heavy and the Liverpool captain will get spherical to cowl.
04:37pm
5 min: Man Metropolis 0 Liverpool 0
Very congested thus far. Everybody funnelling slender till O’Reilly goes on the overlap exterior Doku and hyperlinks up along with his wingman who slips into the realm, the ball by no means wholly beneath management as he pinballs between Bradley and Gravenberch earlier than operating into the brick wall of Konaté‘s proper boot in a block sort out.
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The Etihad has been awash with Guardiola banners. “We’ve bought Guardiola – 1000 video games” reads one draped throughout the East Stand. One other within the North Stand reads: “Mas que un entrenador” – greater than a coach. And people supporters within the South Stand made it abundantly clear they don’t need Guardiola to go away – each time that will probably be. “Volem que et quotes!!!” the banner learn in Catalan. Translation: We wish you to remain.
04:34pm
3 min: Man Metropolis 0 Liverpool 0
Doku switches again to the left and Metropolis go backwards to go forwards. The Etihad resounds within the ‘Steve Gerrard, Gerrard fell on his f—— a—’ track to commemorate their 2014 title.
Gravenberch legs up O”Reilly after the Metropolis left-back whipped the ball off Salah and made strides up the left.
04:32pm
1 min: Man Metropolis 0 Liverpool 0
Liverpool kick off, attacking from proper to left and, in true 2025-26 model, lump it ahead and concede a right away throw-in. Doku places Metropolis again on the entrance foot with an 80-yard run, pushing Wirtz again and winsa throw-in once more, all inside 60 seconds.
04:28pm
Arne Slot and Pep Guardiola
Each lay poppy wreaths by the aspect of the pitch earlier than the Final Put up.
04:25pm
The groups are within the tunnel
And about to emerge. each side of their residence strips, Metropolis in sky blue and white, Liverpool in Ron Yeatsian crimson.
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There will probably be a commemoration of the fallen and all who’ve served for Remembrance Sunday earlier than kick-off.
04:18pm
Guardiola speaks to Sky Sports activities
[Rayan Cherki] is a particular expertise, a high quality for connecting. There is no such thing as a particular cause for his choice, we predict he may give us that additional factor.
There may be quite a lot of video games to play, the league is so lengthy. The issue is there however the problem is gorgeous. We give attention to the sport after which we’ll have fun [the 1000th game] or go residence and fall asleep [depending on the performance].
04:15pm
The 1000 membership assembles to reward Pep
04:11pm
A fast phrase with Arne Slot
After the outcomes we’ve had over the previous one and a half months you give attention to your self. We put together for Metropolis, some of the tough opponents, and pay no consideration to the [Arsenal game]. I used to be nonetheless analysing Metropolis yesterday for the 250th time however heard the outcomes and all the outcomes.
Each Man Metropolis and Actual Madrid are very, very god groups however you can’t evaluate, one has a supervisor that has been there for 10 years, one for just a few months. However sure there’s a similarity between Mbappé and Haaland, significantly their tempo.
04:07pm
For all of the information from the 4 2pm kick-offs
Please for Will Conroy’s protection and our correspondents’ experiences.
03:56pm
League of countries
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It was solely 9 months in the past that Liverpool, for the primary time of their historical past, named a top-flight beginning XI and not using a single English participant. Now Arne Slot’s league of countries – Georgia, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Hungary, Argentina, Egypt, Northern Eire, Scotland are all represented amongst in the present day’s starters, however not England – is such that the omission barely registers.
03:51pm
Ekitike: Arne Slot is on my again, he needs me to maintain my shirt on
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Hugo Ekitike is laughing and giving a figuring out look to a membership colleague, having simply been requested whether or not Arne Slot generally is a powerful taskmaster.
Along with his eyebrows raised excessive sufficient to brush the ceiling, at first it appears Ekitike is contemplating a diplomatic response. What follows is as direct as one in every of his dashes in direction of the opposition aim, as he’s pushed for an instance of Slot’s most pertinent recommendation.
“Clearly [he told me] to maintain my shirt on!” he says, guffawing, a reference to the he acquired on this season’s Carabao Cup for eradicating his jersey after scoring.
03:43pm
Will Guardiola bow out on the proper time?
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The judgment on when to go away is usually a call botched by the best managers, not least as a result of that intuition for survival is essentially so robust in them that it’s onerous to bypass – and for it will likely be simply the identical.
Sir Alex Ferguson known as it proper in 2013 and left with the Premier League trophy in his palms, his grandchildren on the Outdated Trafford pitch round him and a Wayne Rooney revolt quelled. Over at the identical afternoon, one in every of Guardiola’s predecessors, Roberto Mancini, was about to be sacked. Ferguson couldn’t have directed a greater finale himself.
Arsène Wenger bought it flawed by ignoring all the explanations that appeared apparent to everybody else. Jürgen Klopp? Maybe too early to say, however final season’s Premier League title at Anfield should nonetheless give him pause for thought. Johan Cruyff, the lodestar of Guardiola’s early profession, didn’t even make it to the top of the 1995-96 season on the Nou Camp. He was sacked by a Barcelona president who may now not take the arguments.
Guardiola coaches his 1,000th recreation as a supervisor in the present day, greater than half of them at Metropolis, and – at 54 – comparatively younger to have reached such a milestone. One other pivotal recreation in opposition to Liverpool awaits in what may be Guardiola’s final season on the membership, though the extension he signed 12 months in the past takes him to the top of 2026-27. One hardly wants to emphasize the size of his achievements or the breadth of his affect. Stepping away takes one thing else for a terrific supervisor.
03:35pm
Your groups in black and white
Manchester Metropolis Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Bernardo, Nico, Foden; Cherki, Haaland, Doku.Substitutes Trafford, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Marmoush, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Bobb, Lewis.
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Liverpool Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Ekitike, Wirtz.Substitutes Woodman, Gomez, Endo, Kerkez, Isak, Chiesa, Jones, Gakpo, Ngumoha.
Referee Chris Kavanagh (Ashton-under-Lyne)
03:27pm
Protest in opposition to UAE’s involvement in Sudan atrocities proceed exterior Etihad
03:19pm
Metropolis workforce information
Guardiola makes three modifications from midweek: Dias, Cherki and Bernardo are available for Stones, Savinho and Reijnders.
03:17pm
Liverpool workforce information
Slot sticks with beginning XI from victory over Actual Madrid with Isak returning to the matchday squad.
02:41pm
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02:39pm
Preview: Second place up for grabs
Good afternoon and welcome to dwell protection of the Premier League match between Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool from Etihad Stadium. The match will begin with Metropolis in third and Liverpool in sixth and a victory for the previous would shut the hole on the high to Arsenal to 4 factors after the leaders have been deservedly held to a draw by Sunderland yesterday. Liverpool, regardless of these 4 successive defeats, a run terminated by their 2-0 victory over Villa final week, would climb to second, solely 5 factors behind Arsenal if they’ll observe up their 2-0 win there final season by taking three factors in the present day.
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Each side received in European competitors in midweek, Metropolis an emphatic 4-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool an excellent 1-0 win over Actual Madrid so come into Pep Guardiola’s one thousandth match as a supervisor in comparatively positive fettle. Metropolis are lacking solely Mateo Kovacic, who most likely ought to have gone for surgical procedure earlier, whereas Alisson. Jeremie Frimpong and Alexander Isak have all been dominated out for the away aspect. The intriguing choice dilemma for Liverpool will probably be over whether or not Arne Slot offers free rein to Florian Wirtz on the left in opposition to one in every of Metropolis’s makeshift right-backs or reverts to Cody Gakpo whereas Metropolis, whose wingers Jérémy Doku and Savinho have been instrumental of their midweek win, will greater than possible restore Bernardo Silva in some capability particularly if Rodri is deemed not match sufficient to start out.
Earlier than final season’s 2-0 victory which lengthened their result in 11 factors and all however sealed the title, the Etihad had not been a cheerful searching floor for wins whereas Guardiola has been in cost. It hasn’t for anybody so it’s no shame, however they did draw 4 of the earlier eight matches there beneath Jürgen Klopp, shedding closely 3 times and by the odd aim as soon as. After heavy funding in 2025, each groups have been vastly remodelled from the match which Metropolis received 4-1 of their Treble-winning season. Each are nonetheless struggling teething troubles however have sufficient high quality to convey the perfect out of one another in one in every of solely a handful of real must-not-miss matches for followers of different sides.