Everyone was watching the sidelines, but Pep Guardiola made sure that there would be no excitement at Anfield on Sunday. Manchester City showcased their skills on the field rather than engaging in public statements or confrontations. The highly anticipated match between Guardiola and Klopp was expected to be a grand event, but Guardiola kept the atmosphere calm by downplaying any drama in his pre-game press conference and exchanging friendly greetings with Klopp before the game started. The City manager declined to elaborate on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s statement suggesting that Liverpool’s victories were more significant to them than City’s trophies. It is possible that Alexander-Arnold made these provocative remarks earlier and they were intended to motivate Liverpool fans before a big game. The Liverpool team had a notably weaker lineup, highlighting the importance of their home crowd support as their “12th man” against City. This is a common tactic and not something to be embarrassed about, as playing at Anfield can give them a significant advantage. Additionally, read about the player ratings for Man City vs Liverpool, with Manu Akanji performing well but Julian Alvarez receiving a poor rating. Kevin De Bruyne’s frustration overshadowed Manchester City’s result against Liverpool FC. However, the remarks also motivated City to push forward. Kyle Walker acknowledged that the team had been talking about the issue, as Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias had publicly expressed a different perspective. The City team has a well-known history of struggling at Anfield, but Guardiola didn’t want to blame it on that, instead urging his players to improve. They were already trying to counteract the influence of the home crowd before the game even started.
Â
