‘Guard of Pain’: City put Liverpool to the sword with a 4-0 drubbing
- Manchester City hosted the Premier League Champions at the Etihad Stadium
- Goals from De Bruyne, Sterling, Foden and an own goal from Chamberlain capped off a night to forget for Jurgen Klopp
- Mental Health and Psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic
Manchester City put four goals past Liverpool in a one-sided clash of the current and former champions.
When Pep Guardiola announced that his side was going to set a ‘Guard of Honor’ for the newly crowned champions, this was deemed a show of respect by the Spaniard to a team that had won the title resoundingly.
True to his word, the entire Manchester City stood in line as the Liverpool squad trotted past in pride of an achievement that has eluded them for 30 years. But that was the much they were to get from the Blue side of Manchester.
Right from kick-off, Guardiola’s side were ready to make Jurgen Klopp’s side pay. Not for partying which was evident from the players’ movement, but for taking the crown that had become reminiscent to the Blue team.
Raheem Sterling won a penalty in the 24th minute as he twisted and turned around Joe Gomez who brought him down.
City’s newfound ace penalty taker Kevin De Bruyne converted the penalty, sending Alisson the other way, to open the scoring.
Sterling doubled the lead ten minutes later when he received a pass from City wonderkid Phil Foden, took the ball past Gomez before sending a shot past Alisson to get a goal against his former side.
Youngster Foden would then get on the scoresheet when he was teed up on the edge of the box by De Bruyne and his howitzer of a shot into the roof left Brazilian shot-stopper helpless.
It was the night for Guardiola to remind his critics and doubters that he was still the same man who could get things done.
Sterling would add more misery on his former side minutes past the hour mark when his shot hit Oxlade Chamberlain before finding its way into the net.
City thought they had registered a ‘high five’ over the newly coroneted champions when substitute Riyad Mahrez went on a solo run deep in stoppage time before sending a shot past Alisson who was having a night to forget.
A VAR review would see referee Anthony Taylor cut the Algerian’s celebrations as it showed that the ball had been handled in the build-up to the goal.
Be that as it may, City had done it. Put four goals past the side that had taken their crown.
Pep Guardiola had reminded everyone that he was still the man that had swept past teams with sheer attack and ruthlessness.
Jurgen Klopp may have the crown, but Guardiola will pride in the bragging rights.
