Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has explained that his team showed greater directness and intensity to secure a 2-1 victory over Liverpool in Sunday’s Premier League clash at Anfield.
City fought back from a goal down to claim all three points, with Erling Haaland converting a late penalty to seal the comeback win.
Liverpool had earlier taken the lead through Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning free-kick, but Bernardo Silva drew City level before Haaland’s decisive strike.
The result means Guardiola’s men remain six points behind Arsenal at the top of the table.
“First half was really good and we lost a bit of momentum in the second half,” Guardiola told BBC Match of the Day.
Guardiola admitted that the atmosphere at Anfield made things difficult initially, but said his side adjusted by playing more directly after falling behind. He praised Szoboszlai’s superb strike and highlighted Bernardo Silva’s leadership in inspiring City’s response and eventual comeback.
He added that the team showed strong spirit overall, describing the first half as very good before fatigue set in after the break. Guardiola noted that Omar Marmoush and Erling Haaland became too passive in the second half, which made things harder for City as the game progressed.
