Sunday was all about Pep Guardiola — a celebration of his remarkable milestone that began in the morning and ended with Manchester City dismantling Liverpool 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
The 54-year-old Spaniard marked his 1,000th game as a manager with his 716th win, as chants of “We’ve got Guardiola…” echoed through the stadium in appreciation of his legacy and vision for a new era at City.
After a draining previous season filled with injuries and fatigue, Guardiola’s men look revitalized. The win over Liverpool lifted City to second place in the Premier League, just four points behind leaders Arsenal.
“Teams win the Premier League when the team is growing every month,” Guardiola reflected post-match. “It’s nice to have that feeling again — the energy is back.”
Guardiola Rediscovers His Passion
Guardiola’s post-match smile said it all — this was a manager who has rediscovered his love for the game. After failing to secure a major trophy for the first time in eight years last season, questions arose about whether the City boss had lost his spark.
But City’s commanding performance against Liverpool silenced critics. Guardiola praised his squad’s “good vibe” since the summer, noting how their adaptability has added new layers to City’s classic passing game.
City now blend style with substance, mixing short passing sequences with direct long balls to their star striker, Erling Haaland, who netted yet again — bringing his tally to 14 goals in 11 Premier League matches.
Interestingly, City have covered more ground than any other team in the league this season — averaging 115.3 km per match, a 5.5 km improvement from last year.
“We’re more unpredictable now — and that’s a good thing,” Guardiola warned rivals. “Opponents don’t know what’s coming next. It’s good energy to have.”
Former defender Nedum Onuoha commented that Guardiola has “his finger on the pulse” of modern football, while Michael Brown praised his tactical flexibility: “We’re seeing a more adaptable, pragmatic Guardiola now — something we didn’t before.”
City Back to Their Best
Despite early-season setbacks against Brighton, Tottenham, and Aston Villa, City have regained their trademark rhythm. They’ve now lost just once in their last 14 matches, showing the same consistency that brought them six titles in eight years.
This rejuvenated City features new faces after several big names — including Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, and Ederson — departed. Yet the new crop, led by Haaland, Jeremy Doku, and Nico Gonzalez, are quickly finding their stride.
Guardiola hailed Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden, who each ran over 12.5 km in the Liverpool game, as the team’s heartbeat. “Bernardo struggled last season but he’s been incredible — a master of our style,” Guardiola said.
Former striker Dion Dublin summed it up perfectly:
“This is the City of old — dominant, fluid, and ruthless. Liverpool were simply outclassed.”
As for Liverpool, the Reds have now dropped to eighth in the table, with manager Arne Slot admitting, “Five defeats are too many — the title race isn’t something we should be thinking about right now.”
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