Man City vs Liverpool result: Five things we learned as Phil Foden stars in thrashing

Manchester City 4-0 Liverpool: The new champions put in a limp display against the former champions in their first appearance since clinching the title

Foden shows Guardiola the future

These were strong teams, showing that it was no friendly in the eyes of Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, but the latter’s line-up did contain a nod to the future. The 19-year-old Spaniard Eric Garcia look largely composed at the back, while 20-year-old Phil Foden was exceptional in midfield, setting up Raheem Sterling’s goal before scoring one of his own with a blistering finish over Alisson Becker.

It has been said many times before but every time Foden is given the chance, he proves he has what it takes to play for Manchester City not just in the future but in the present too. David Silva will depart in a few weeks after a stunning decade at the club, and although his are vast shoes to fill, Foden is ready to play a far more significant role in this team. If he can mix it with the champions, he can surely handle himself at any level going forwards. LO

A managerial rivalry for the ages

When Guardiola arrived at Manchester City, the talk was of his rivalry with Jose Mourinho at Manchester United. The best two managers in the world were in the same league, in the same city, their long-standing disdain for one another set to ignite in the Premier League cauldron.

Kevin De Bruyne is challenged by Joe Gomez (2020 Pool)

Of course it didn’t really work out that way. Both teams underwhelmed in their opening season and by the team City clicked, Mourinho’s United were rudderless. So Jurgen Klopp has filled the void to some extent, playing the part of Guardiola’s adversary in what has been a largely warm-spirited and respectful rivalry, given the stakes.

There have been some chastening days and nights for both men during the past couple of years. The Champions League semi-final when Raheem Sterling’s late winner was ruled out by VAR. City’s 5-0 win at the Etihad after Sadio Mane had been sent off. This was another for Klopp, albeit with no serious ramifications, but it did suggest two things: that City will be back stronger next year, and that the Klopp-Guardiola rivalry still has some chapters to be told. LO

Jesus fails to rise to the occasion

The pace is evident, the position is perfect, but all too often intent spills into panic. Twice in the first half, with Liverpool uncharacteristically open in defence and Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings effortlessly, Gabriel Jesus tripped Liverpool’s offside line with the goal gaping.

The question before kick-off, treated with certainty, but at least a little less spite, by Roy Keane was whether the Brazilian can fill Sergio Aguero’s shoes. The opening quarter, then, provided a clear answer. It’s not that Jesus doesn’t have the nous for goal, the poise to spot an opening, but that his urgency and lack of composure can still be consuming.

The facets of an elite striker are there, but at 23 years old, the questions over whether those qualities will ever mesh perfectly together into a 25-goal-a-season striker still ring concern. TK

Sterling and Gomez renew acquaintances

It was, perhaps, the most significant undercurrent in this one-sided affair. The tension between Raheem Sterling and Joe Gomez that imploded in unexpected fashion at St George’s Park, and later bled into an ugly chorus of boos at Wembley, was revived in a drastically lopsided contest.

As opposed to the pair’s initial clash – on the pitch, this time it was Sterling, whose magnificent footwork and incisive running saw him cut inside at will, who proved pivotal in City’s opening two goals.

Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling scores his side’s second goal (PA)

The first was clumsy from Gomez, clearly manhandling a jinking Sterling in the box, before a penalty was awarded. It was naive defending but, in Gomez’s defence, there was little he could do to prevent City’s second, with Sterling piercing a shot between his countryman’s legs and past Alisson at the near-post.

To rub salt into the wound, Gomez’s torrid game was brought to an end at half time as he was replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. TK

City’s season is only just beginning

City are the favourites for the Champions League in most quarters, just shorter odds than Bayern Munich, and they may even have embellished that status a little with this victory. Kevin De Bruyne said last week that this can still be a “special” season, with the Champions League and FA Cup to come, and if Liverpool’s season is effectively over, City still have plenty to play for. LO