Sunday began with a celebration of Pep Guardiola and ended the same way.
On his 1,000th game as a manager, the 54-year-old notched his 716th victory as Manchester City comprehensively beat Liverpool 3-0 at the Etihad. At full-time the home crowd sang “We’ve got, Guardiola…” to the tune of ‘Glad All Over’, acknowledging a manager who appears to have laid fresh foundations for another rebuild and a push for a seventh Premier League title.
Both Guardiola and City had looked drained last season, their momentum sapped by injuries after a record fourth successive league title. With Liverpool also struggling to retain the trophy, City’s injection of new players has brought renewed vigour for Guardiola, who now leads a side second in the table, four points behind leaders Arsenal.
“Teams win the Premier League when the team is growing every month,” Guardiola said. “When that happens you arrive at the end fighting for the title. We talk a lot and the feeling that we are in that way. It’s nice to still have the feeling that we are back in terms of many things. I have the feeling it [the energy] is back.”
The grin on Guardiola’s face as he walked onto the pitch after the win summed it up: a coach who has rediscovered the joy of football. Since his 2016 arrival from Bayern Munich, he has reshaped English football, but last season was a rare blank in which City won no major trophies for the first time in eight years. That prompted questions about whether he could “go again” — Sunday’s display against the club he has often lauded for pushing him silenced many doubts.
Guardiola has spoken about the “good vibe” inside the squad since the Club World Cup in the summer, and it is translating on the pitch. While City still favour their signature passing game, the current iteration is more flexible — able to play direct to the target man Erling Haaland when needed. The opener against Liverpool came from an old-fashioned cross by Matheus Nunes, headed in by Haaland, who has 14 league goals in 11 Premier League matches this term.
Statistically, City have covered more ground than any other Premier League team this season (1,268.7 km total; an average 115.3 km per game), up 5.5 km on last year. “We are more unpredictable in the way we attack and defend, and that is good that the opponents don’t know what we are going to do,” Guardiola warned. “It is good energy to have during the games.”
Former City defender Nedum Onuoha told BBC Radio 5 Live that the manager now seems almost a different figure compared with his first 100 matches: “He has adapted over the years based on how football is changing. He has had his finger on the pulse of how that is.” Ex-City midfielder Michael Brown pointed out tactical shifts too — such as keeping possession in corners late on or, under pressure, switching to direct balls into Haaland — showing a manager evolving his approach.
City’s season has had setbacks — defeats to Brighton, Tottenham and Aston Villa, two of which came in August — and a summer of change saw established names like Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish, Ilkay Gundogan and Ederson depart after key roles in recent success. Yet a run of one loss in 14 matches indicates City are finding the consistency that delivered six titles in eight years and a Champions League.
Haaland continues to spearhead the attack; he has 28 goals for club and country in 18 appearances this season. After the loss at Villa, Guardiola urged midfielders and wingers to contribute goals; unheralded Nico Gonzalez and electric Jeremy Doku answered that call against Liverpool. In Rodri’s absence, Gonzalez has grown into the number six role and had more touches than any City player, while left-back Nico O’Reilly largely contained Mohamed Salah and led the match in tackles (five). “Nico O’Reilly was amazing,” said Guardiola. “In general, everyone was extraordinary because they are still the champions.”
Guardiola also praised Bernardo Silva, saying the midfielder “was there” despite struggling last season, calling him “an incredible signing for us” and “a master” in how he influenced the game. Bernardo and Phil Foden each covered more than 12.5 km on Sunday — only twice has a player run more in a Premier League match this season.
Former striker Dion Dublin felt the win showed City are back to their dominant best: “Guardiola has got his team where he wants them again. This is City of old. This is the City that we remember, dominating games.” Liverpool dropped to eighth, eight points behind Arsenal, and manager Arne Slot admitted five defeats “is too many” and that title talk should be avoided for now. Guardiola and City, however, will be exactly where they want to be — thinking about the title.
Additional reporting by BBC Sport’s Chris Collinson
