Tonight sees Liverpool travel to the Etihad and you would forgive Pep Guardiola for having a few sleepless nights after the Reds dumped Man City out of the Champions League last season in uncompromising fashion. A remarkable 3-0 win for the Reds at Anfield gave them the upper hand before they went to the Etihad and won again, winning 2-1 to book their place their place in the semi-finals.
Manchester City’s documentary on Amazon Prime, All or Nothing, was one of the most insightful football documentaries we have seen in some time and it was during one of these episodes that Pep revealed just how scared he was of Liverpool’s attackers.
It was before an away game at Goodison Park, which City won 3-1, where the Spanish boss and his assistant were already looking ahead to the upcoming away game at Anfield.
Pep begins, in the privacy of the dressing room: “The forwards for Liverpool are good. Those three up front.
His assistant replies: “Yes but only it’s just them.”
PG: “They scare me. They’re dangerous. I have the feeling Salah will play striker. Salah will play as number nine and Firmino will move towards the wing. He comes here and Salah goes forward. Our wing-back can’t cover their wing-back”
Both assistants then try to reassure Pep but he was right to be worried as his side were torn apart in a ruthless first-half at Anfield. That shocking defensive display all but put City out of the competition and they will hope they have learned from that performance this time around.
This season in the reverse fixture the two sides played out an uncharacteristically cagey 0-0 draw, with both sides seemingly happy not to lose. Riyad Mahrez blew the biggest chance of that game, blazing a penalty over the bar with just four minutes remaining. That would have stopped the Red’s unbeaten run but as it stands they are yet to lose a league game this season. That could change tonight, however, if Pep finally gets his revenge on Liverpool.
Watch the famous clip down below.
