Process of goodbyes begins for true legend

PEP GUARDIOLA took a momentary break from barking tactical instructions to give him a pat on the head and those sat behind the bench reached out for a fist bump.

Sergio Aguero’s long goodbye has begun. This instalment lasted an hour and will not be on his career highlights reel.

From his personal point of view, it was uneventful but it was more minutes in the legs as he aims to return to prime fitness.

And if a squad, even one as well-stocked as Guardiola’s, is fighting on four fronts, then players such as Aguero will have plenty to contribute over these next couple of months.

Actually, fighting on four fronts is a lie. They are cruising on one of those fronts. They are cruising in the Premier League.

And one of those chiefly responsible for this latest win was the man who has taken on more responsibility when Aguero has been missing and is winding down the clock.

It seems there will always be doubting Thomases when it comes to Gabriel Jesus.

But he fits the Pep bill to a T. He is a perfect Guardiola operator – tireless, relentless and, most importantly, selfless.

His goal was not only a reward for his fantastic endeavour, it was a reward for being unselfish in the build-up.

Jesus presented a chance to substitute Raheem Sterling when he could have gone for goal himself and his favour was immediately returned to scoring effect.

It goes without saying that the work ethic is strong in this Manchester City team but no-one puts in a shift like Jesus.

He sometimes appears to lack composure and one first-half effort was particularly wasteful but he never gives defenders a moment’s peace.

After Benjamin Mendy’s unlikely opener, the Jesus goal settled things in favour of Guardiola’s team but the Brazilian’s efforts were still unstinting.

One press on Jonny Evans should have provided a third but Riyad Mahrez declined the invitation.

Still, it was ultra-comfortable for the one City team out there who were keen on attacking.

For those who enjoy their Fantasy Football, Manchester City’s team selection has become a phenomenon known as Pep Roulette. And the wheel will be spinning between now and the end of their season.

Guardiola would argue there is no first-choice eleven but this starting line-up looked designed to keep a couple fresh for the Champions League challenge against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday. You can be assured Aguero will not start that match.

After announcing his imminent departure, Aguero still looked, being suitably polite to a legend, a little rusty.

But that he looked a yard off the pace was probably not just down to his level of sharpness. This is a team that has become accustomed to playing without Aguero, without anyone in that particular role.

After a recent appearance, City’s record goalscorer apparently complained no-one was passing to him. It was the same here.

Given a longish run of matches there is no reason to believe he will not get his edge back but, on this evidence, you can see why there will be an amicable parting of the ways at the end of the campaign.

To be fair, Aguero was not the only one of the champions-elect who was not in top gear.

It was a contest sprinkled with errors and much of the intrigue centred on whether Brendan Rodgers’ extreme counter-attacking game plan could work. It could not.

Mendy popped up with a neatly-taken opener that was reflective of the visitors’ dominance and the Jesus goal wrapped things up.

By then, Aguero himself was wrapped up, his early evening’s work done.

He will have better games but will also enjoy the ride between now and the end of the season.

And why wouldn’t he? The odds are he will play his part in making more history for Manchester City.