Manchester Metropolis delivered a deafening assertion of intent to rejoice Pep Guardiola’s landmark 1,000th match in administration as Liverpool have been dismissed out of hand at Etihad Stadium.
carried an ominous warning for Premier League leaders Arsenal, whose benefit on the prime was whereas it inflicted a grievous wound on Liverpool and their hopes of back-to-back titles.
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Guardiola needed to navigate Metropolis by way of troubled waters final season as their historic run of 4 successive titles ended, with questions raised concerning the 54-year-old Spaniard’s potential to rebuild.
After years of just about unbroken success with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Metropolis, was Guardiola nonetheless keen sufficient to create one other workforce of champions?
This was probably the most emphatic reply from Guardiola and his gamers, a efficiency that was directly dazzling, harmful and stuffed with the ability and tempo that means Metropolis are very a lot again in form to problem for the Premier League trophy.
If Guardiola had requested for a present from Metropolis’s gamers to commemorate their inspirational supervisor on his massive day, this was the proper current.
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Guardiola noticed it that approach, saying: “I simply need to say thanks to the gamers, backroom workers to provide me that current. I am proud to do it right here in Manchester with my Metropolis.”
The spectacle would have been the other of celebratory for Arsenal and, very painfully right here, Liverpool.
Arsenal are nonetheless in pole place, however that is solely after 11 video games and Metropolis have proved previously they get pleasure from making opponents really feel their breath on their shoulders.
After Arsenal dropped two factors late on at Sunderland on Saturday, the door was all of a sudden ajar. Metropolis burst by way of in spectacular style.
For Liverpool, this was a sobering, chastening expertise.
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It was right here at Etihad Stadium final February that Liverpool’s 2-0 win accomplished the double over Metropolis, additionally successfully settling the title chase.
This recreation, each in consequence and efficiency, was an entire distinction. Liverpool have been overrun by a revitalised Metropolis.
It’s not a defeat that ends their hopes of maintaining maintain of their crown – we’re solely 11 video games into the season, in any case.
Nevertheless, it’s more and more troublesome to see how Liverpool can current a severe problem of their present form after a fifth loss in six league video games.
‘A brutal lesson for Liverpool’
Metropolis preyed on Liverpool’s weak midfield and defence all through, as others have performed this season.
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Slot was sad that Virgil van Dijk’s header, which might have made it 1-1 earlier than half-time, was disallowed for offside.
Defender Andy Robertson, who was definitely in an offside place, ducked in entrance of Metropolis goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to permit the ball to float in. Many felt Robertson’s presence was inconsequential and that the purpose ought to have stood, however in the end the Reds got a brutal lesson.
As soon as Nico Gonzalez’s deflected shot made it 2-0 simply earlier than half-time, the competition was successfully over.
Guardiola appears re-energised by the duty of placing Metropolis proper after a poor marketing campaign by their requirements final outing, assembling a spread of attacking weapons able to profitable any recreation – led by the exceptional spearhead of Haaland.
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The primary purpose on Sunday was wealthy within the creativity that’s Guardiola’s hallmark, a magical second that was a becoming solution to mark his massive day. It was a masterpiece that can dwell lengthy within the reminiscence.
Metropolis weaved their approach out from dealing with Liverpool stress close to their very own nook flag with a wonderful sequence of passes from again to entrance.
This symphony of Guardiola’s type led to a well-recognized crescendo as Haaland soared above Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate to fulfill Matheus Nunes’ cross and ship a header previous keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Nunes’ cross that arrange Haaland’s header was the nineteenth go within the transfer that merely reduce by way of Liverpool till it reached its last flourish.
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It could possibly be used as a monument to Guardiola’s footballing philosophy.
Haaland had already uncharacteristically wasted an opportunity to place Metropolis forward as his penalty was saved by Mamardashvili after the keeper was penalised for upending Jeremy Doku, nevertheless it was not lengthy earlier than the exceptional striker scored his 99th Premier League purpose.
Doku is a transformative image of this new Metropolis.
The 23-year-old has gone from being an unquestionably proficient winger, however typically maddeningly inconsistent, to the good catalyst behind a lot of their finest moments this season.
He gave Conor Bradley, excellent in Liverpool’s win towards Actual Madrid within the Champions League, a horrible time. Bradley was run ragged by the tempo and bodily presence of Doku – though absolutely no-one may address the Belgian on this kind.
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Doku was merely unstoppable, a participant now in full flower after lastly changing into accustomed to Guardiola’s excessive calls for following a £55.4m transfer from Rennes in August 2023.
Rayan Cherki provides subtlety in midfield, whereas Phil Foden is again to his finest and Bernardo Silva nonetheless has all of the outdated guile to maintain Metropolis transferring together with his prompting.
It was a convincing win in each approach, giving Arsenal and their supervisor Mikel Arteta – previously Guardiola’s assistant – a hefty serving to of meals for thought over the worldwide break.
For Liverpool, this was a return to earth with a convincing thud after their current upturn.
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They now languish in eighth place, eight factors behind Arsenal and 4 adrift of Metropolis, however with momentum stalled. Liverpool’s tally of 5 defeats this season now eclipses the 4 they suffered after they gained the title.
And there are nonetheless disturbing indicators that Liverpool have but to adapt to the summer time inflow of just about £450m value of recent expertise.
Hugo Ekitike, one of many successes, was subdued right here whereas £125m fellow striker Alexander Isak was an unused substitute after three weeks out with a groin damage.
It was one other day of struggling and disappointment for £116m playmaker Florian Wirtz, whose struggles have been made worse by the taunts of Metropolis’s followers, remembering how he turned down a transfer to Etihad Stadium with a purpose to be a part of Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen.
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Wirtz, at this stage, clearly struggles with the physicality of the Premier League. The expertise is clearly there, however too usually he’s shrugged off simply in possession.
It’s one thing he should get used to and counter-act. Inevitable barracking got here Wirtz’s approach with a chant of “what a waste of cash” from jubilant house followers when he was changed by Federico Chiesa seven minutes from time.
Guardiola, in the meantime, revelled within the victory however seemed ahead to the video games that can comply with the worldwide break.
“Now relaxation and are available again with the power,” he stated, earlier than reflecting on the pathway that introduced him to this stage of a exceptional teaching life.
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“I believe my interval at Barcelona B is the muse for a lot of issues. To grasp that I used to be in a position to do it and be taught loads.
“I’ll always remember the blokes in that first season. For me, it has been so particular to make 1,000 video games in entrance of my household and particularly towards Liverpool. I’ve an enormous respect for that membership.”
This was Guardiola’s day of celebration. And Metropolis made it an event to recollect.