After Liverpool’s heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Crystal Palace, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has poured salt into the wound with a sharp assessment of the Reds’ current struggles.
Speaking after City’s own match, Guardiola hinted that Liverpool’s downturn was predictable once a certain influential figure departed.
> “From the moment he left, I knew Liverpool would face problems,” Guardiola said with a knowing tone. “They’ve lost that spark, that game-changing presence. The team I saw today, even with the two players they’re building around, doesn’t look ready to challenge for the Premier League. Without that key man, this decline was always coming.”
Though Guardiola didn’t name names, fans were quick to speculate he was referring to a former midfield orchestrator—famous for dictating tempo and slicing open defenses—whose absence is still felt at Anfield.
Liverpool’s defeat only reinforced the point. Despite dominating possession, they struggled to break through Palace’s rock-solid defense, eventually falling short in the penalty shootout. Creativity in attack was alarmingly scarce, making Guardiola’s words sting even more.
Supporters flocked to social media in frustration, with many admitting, “We never should have let him go.”
Whether Guardiola’s comments were pure honesty or mind games ahead of the new season remains up for debate. One thing is certain—Liverpool’s road back to the top looks far more difficult, and the pressure on Jürgen Klopp to find answers has never been this intense.
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