Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola singled out four Liverpool players for praise after his team’s win last night.
City eventually beat Liverpool 3-2 in an entertaining Carabao Cup fixture at the Etihad Stadium. The game saw a nice mix of youth and experience in both sides as they slugged it out for a quarter-final place.
One of those youngsters was City right-back Rico Lewis. The 18-year-old looked assured as he coped with the threat of Liverpool’s attack. Speaking to mancity.com after the game, Pep was keen to praise his young star, whilst also admiring the quality of the Reds players he faced.
“We have an incredible right [sided] footballer with us for the next years, it’s the best notice. He [Rico Lewis] always played good, but not against Liverpool. Liverpool is special. [Darwin] Nunez, [Mohamed] Salah, Thiago [Alcantara], [Andy] Robertson inside. He’s [Lewis] 18-years-old and the way he played was outstanding, he was Man of the Match,” gushed the 51-year-old.
Pep paying Liverpool compliments
Pep is notorious for waxing lyrical about an opponent just after his side have beaten them, but that isn’t the case here.
The City boss has spoken many times and at length about his admiration for Liverpool. It’s obvious to see the respect he’s built for Jurgen Klopp’s team over the years.,
And well he might, too. Liverpool were nowhere near full strength last night and yet they still ran a pretty strong looking City mighty close.
It’s hard to think of too many teams in world football who’d be able to do that, whilst missing some key names.
All four of the players Guardiola mentions are in Liverpool’s strongest side right now, though. All four showed up in various degrees at the Etihad.
Robertson was as industrious as always. His passing was a little sloppy in the first half, and perhaps he could have got tighter to Riyad Mahrez for the second goal. But he also nearly claimed a delicious assist for a wonderful set-piece ball into Nunez.
Nunez himself will be disappointed not to have finished the game with at least one goal. His finishing last night will no doubt be over-analysed, but none were especially easy chances to take. Still, you’d expect him to at least hit the target. All three chances showed what he offers though, and his assist for Salah was brilliant.
Mo got his goal – that makes it 10 in his last 16 against Manchester City. He looked relatively sharp but perhaps could have offered a little more throughout. And Thiago, well what can you say? Lumped with two teenagers against a City midfield that cost a combined £138m, he looked the class act that he is. Special players, all of them. Well said, Pep.
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