Guardiola: This award is always for a Liverpool player

Guardiola risked igniting a row with Liverpool by claiming the individual awards system in English football was geared around the Merseyside club’s success.

Jordan Henderson was named the Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year yesterday after captaining Liverpool to their first title for 30 years and being the driving force behind the Players Together initiative that has raised vital funds for NHS charities.

Guardiola was dismayed Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah beat Kevin De Bruyne to the Professional Footballers’ Association’s Player of the Year award in 2017-18 – he also landed the FWA prize – despite Manchester City taking the title with 100 points. And when City retained the title last season, pipping their rivals by a point, Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk was the PFA winner.

Speaking before Henderson earned the FWA award, Guardiola had already ruled out his players’ chances. “No no, it will be won by a Liverpool player,” he told the BBC. “When we won the Premier Leagues it was won by a Liverpool player. When they win the Premier League, I’m pretty sure they are going to win the player of the season. This award is always for Liverpool.”

Raheem Sterling, the City forward, won the FWA award last year. De Bruyne came second behind Henderson in the FWA voting this year, with Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford third and Liverpool’s Van Dijk and Sadio Mane fourth and fifth respectively.

Guardiola did offer his congratulations to Henderson yesterday when asked about the awards.

Meanwhile, Sergio Aguero remains a doubt for City’s Champions League tie against Real Madrid on Aug 7 following knee surgery.