Proud Pep praises City after Liverpool draw

Over the course of 10 minutes late in the second half, the Manchester City manager seemed on the verge of self-combustion.

Jurgen Klopp believes Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona side were a ideal footballing role model and the Liverpool boss expects his old Bundesliga adversary to be a success at Manchester City.

And with the City players clearly still up for the fight, this season is nowhere near done yet. “It is not easy to play central defence for this manager but I admire my central defenders”.

Nathaniel Clyne has undergone a recent dip in form, leading some to question his long-term future at Anfield.

Liverpool fans will be fuming with the England international’s shocking miss against Man City which comes after Lallana signed a new contract. He walks into our team!

The England worldwide was seven yards out, the goal gaping. With Aleksandar Kolarov preferred at centre back these days, Milner could potentially sneak in on the left side.

Caballero then did well to save from Firmino after a superb Philippe Coutinho reverse pass sent his fellow Brazil worldwide into the box.

Asked why his side’s performance had filled him with pride, Guardiola said it was because of how they responded to their bitter European exit.

City have had tough times in the past with the likes of Everton, Sunderland and Stoke, but these have since been overcome.

A rain-slicked pitch and two attack-minded teams made for a furious first half at the Etihad Stadium, characterised by City possession and Liverpool counter-attacks.

“You have to consider the situation we played this game, how we played against them, a top team – they have exceptional players – means a lot to me”.

“I don’t know if I will be able to do that, but I am willing to help this club, if they want to stay with me, in the next years to make the next step forward”. After our defeat in the Champions League, for two days we were so, so sad and in the training sessions we didn’t talk too much.

Guardiola was criticised after his side crashed out of the Champions League against Monaco in midweek and the Spaniard suffered another blow as City’s slender hopes of catching Premier League leaders Chelsea were effectively ended at Eastlands. As it stands, City have no defensive base to work from, an issue which is compounded by Yaya Toure declining, physically and mentally, in front of their back four.