Champs turn red
Liverpool thrashed 4-0 by Man City in 1st game as EPL winners
Manchester, July 3: As they stepped onto the pitch, Liverpool’s players were given a guard of honor from Manchester City.
It was the only time they looked like Premier League champions on Thursday.
“I think they drank a lot of beers in the last week,” City manager Pep Guardiola said.
The dethroned champions made sure there was an abrupt comedown from the partying.
A merciless attacking display sparked by City scorers Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden consigned Liverpool to a 4-0 loss exactly a week after its 30year title drought ended.
“They were quicker than us in mind — we lacked fluidity,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said.
The slack defending and lack of sharpness from Liverpool was perhaps forgivable from players who had spent the previous 31 rounds establishing an unprecedented 23-point lead to become England’s earliest champions.
Such an emphatic loss is not how Liverpool wanted to close out such a memorable season. Especially when there are still has enough games to overhaul City’s record 100-point haul from 2017-18.
Klopp wasn’t as downbeat as the result suggested despite Liverpool going a fifth away game in all competitions without scoring.
It was a night to forget for so many Liverpool players — particularly Joe Gomez, who dragged Raheem Sterling down to concede a penalty converted by Kevin De Bruyne in the 25th minute.
De Bruyne and Phil Foden helped City stylishly waltz through Liverpool and show how the title can be reclaimed next season.
I think they drank a lot of beers in the last week.
— PEP GUARDIOLA
Manchester City manager after beating Liverpool