Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he did not expect to hear “sacked in the morning” chants from Liverpool fans during his side’s 2-0 defeat at Anfield.
Liverpool won the match 2-0 thanks to goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah, with City second-best throughout.
The result means City are winless in their last seven games and have lost six of those.
After Salah had put Liverpool 2-0 in the 78th minute, Liverpool fans chanted “sacked in the morning”. Guardiola then responded by turning around and holding up six fingers, appearing to correspond to the number of Premier League titles he has won at City. The chants and Guardiola’s response were both repeated at the end of the game.
“Maybe they are right, maybe we must be sacked for the results we have,” Guardiola told Sky Sports.
“I didn’t expect it at Anfield. They didn’t at 0-1, but at 2-0. Maybe they should have done it in the past, sing the song in the past, not now, now it’s taking advantage!
“I didn’t expect it from the people of Liverpool. But it’s fine, it’s part of the game, I understand it completely and accept it. We have had incredible battles together — they win, we win. And I have a respect (for them). And that’s it.”
Liverpool started the game the stronger of the two sides and their early pressure was rewarded in the 12th minute when Salah set up Gakpo to open the scoring.
The hosts continued their pressure for most of the first half, with City eventually getting more of a foothold in the game as the half-time interval neared.
Salah spurned a good chance to double Liverpool’s lead in the 56th minute, when he fired over when one on one with City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, who was starting ahead of Ederson.
Ortega then brought down Diaz in the area 20 minutes later, with Salah converting the penalty to give Liverpool a 2-0 lead.
Liverpool are nine points clear at the top of the league and return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Newcastle United.
City host Nottingham Forest on Wednesday in their next fixture.
(Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)
