Manchester City produced a confident display to beat Liverpool 3-0 at the Etihad on Sunday, November 9.
Pep Guardiola’s side controlled the game from the start and delivered a performance full of intensity and precision.
The Catalan praised his players’ mentality after the win, explaining how he urged them to focus on themselves rather than their rivals.
“I said to the players, ‘Don’t do it because yesterday Arsenal didn’t win – do it because we believe in ourselves that we can play against the champions of England and show them we are ready to be there with them this season’,” Guardiola said.
“Today we proved it, we did it – especially in the first half.”
Haaland continues to shine
City’s quick passing, movement and pressing gave Liverpool little room to breathe.
Erling Haaland was once again at the centre of it all, scoring and leading from the front with his trademark energy.
After the match, the Norwegian striker spoke about how he feels in peak condition.
“It’s been a good start and I feel really good. I feel this is the best version of myself. I’ve never felt better than now,” he said.
“To keep sharp, I need to keep my mind in the right place, I need to recover well, I need to get a lot of treatment, I need to eat the right things.
“It’s staying in the zone and having that balance. It’s about maintaining the energy levels, being motivated, and doing the things that are good for my body and for my brain.”
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Slot urges Liverpool to improve
Liverpool, meanwhile, struggled to match Man City’s tempo.
Manager Arne Slot admitted his side were second best for much of the game but was encouraged by their reaction to going behind.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Slot said: “It’s been a very good start of the week with a very bad end of the week, but City away is for everyone a difficult game, including for us.
“Last season, we were able to win here because we scored a set-piece going 1-0 up and then we had to defend really hard afterwards.
“Today, I don’t think, apart from that decision, it was ever going to be our game – you would never know what would have happened after 1-1 but in general they were the better team.
“We need to improve, that’s what we know, but I didn’t need this game to know this.
“But I liked, if there’s anything to like today, our second-half performance because teams that sometimes struggle, teams that go 3-0 down over here, they give up – but that’s not what I saw.
“I saw a team that was trying to come back into the game. We had moments to do so, but it wasn’t enough today.”
City’s victory keeps them firmly in the title conversation as they sit second behind league leaders Arsenal, while Liverpool, who are eighth, will need to regroup quickly to stay in the race.
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