Sunday began and ended as a celebration of Pep Guardiola. In his 1,000th match as a manager, the 54-year-old recorded his 716th win as Manchester City dismantled Liverpool 3-0 at the Etihad, prompting fans to sing “We’ve got, Guardiola…” — a recognition that the manager appears to have injected fresh foundations into a new era and another tilt at a seventh Premier League crown.
After a drained-looking campaign last season — their momentum sapped by injuries following a record fourth successive league title — City have regained verve through summer signings and tactical evolution. The result leaves Guardiola’s side second in the table, four points behind leaders Arsenal, and has given the manager renewed optimism.
“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.” His broad grin as he walked onto the pitch after the game captured a coach who, by his own admission and by the crowd’s response, has rediscovered the joy of the job.
Since arriving from Bayern Munich in 2016, Guardiola has reshaped English football, but last season’s failure to win a major trophy for the first time in eight years prompted questions about whether he could “go again.” Sunday’s performance against a Liverpool side he has long praised quieted many doubts. Guardiola has pointed to the “good vibe” in the squad since the Club World Cup and that mood is translating into results.
City still favour their trademark passing game, but the current iteration is more flexible and unpredictable, able to switch to direct play to target man Erling Haaland when required. The opener came from a traditional cross by Matheus Nunes, headed in by Haaland, who has 14 league goals in 11 Premier League matches this season.
Statistically the team is covering more ground than any other Premier League side so far (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 said. Former City defender Nedum Onuoha noted the manager “has adapted over the years based on how football is changing,” while ex-midfielder Michael Brown highlighted tactical tweaks such as retaining possession from corners late on or, under pressure, opting for direct balls into Haaland.
City’s season has not been without setbacks — defeats to Brighton, Tottenham and Aston Villa — and a summer of change saw long-serving figures like Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish, Ilkay Gundogan and Ederson move on. Yet a run of one loss in 14 matches suggests the team is rediscovering the consistency behind six titles in eight years and their recent Champions League success.
Haaland remains the spearhead, with 28 goals for club and country in 18 appearances this season. After the Villa defeat Guardiola urged midfielders and wingers to add to the scoring; Nico Gonzalez and Jeremy Doku answered in style against Liverpool. With Rodri absent, Gonzalez has adapted into the number six role and finished with the most touches of any City player. Young left-back Nico O’Reilly largely contained Mohamed Salah and led the game in tackles with five. “Nico O’Reilly was amazing,” Guardiola said. “In general, everyone was extraordinary because they are still the champions.”
He also praised Bernardo Silva, describing him as “an incredible signing for us” and “a master” in how he influenced the match. Bernardo and Phil Foden each covered more than 12.5 km on Sunday — a distance only twice bettered by a player in a Premier League match this season.
Former striker Dion Dublin said the victory 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 slipped to eighth, eight points adrift of Arsenal, and manager Arne Slot conceded five defeats “is too many,” urging caution over talk of titles. Guardiola and his squad, however, are exactly where they want to be: thinking about the title.
