Man City beat Liverpool 3-0: Pep's 1000th milestone
Guardiola celebrated his 1,000th game with a 3-0 win over Liverpool at the Etihad on a rainy November night, with Jeremy Doku firing in to close the gap on Arsenal to four points.
Manchester City beat Liverpool 3-0 at the Etihad on a wet November night, turning Pep Guardiola's 1,000th career game into a statement of rebirth. Jeremy Doku was at the heart of the action with a strike from outside the box and some direct runs; Arsenal have cause for concern as the gap at the top of the Premier League is now four points.
Youthful energy in the 1000th match
On the touchline, Guardiola beamed, hugging each player after the final whistle as if he had just seen the perfect version of his team. For a coach who has won everything, such an emotion is unusual. But it is this rare enthusiasm and energy that is a worrying sign for direct opponents, especially Arsenal.
Guardiola did not celebrate the milestone with a ceremony, but with a controlled, precise and ruthless performance from his players, a spirit that showed he was not looking back, but only towards “the next standard”.
Doku and the New Breath
This was “Jeremy Doku’s night”. The Belgian winger played the kind of football Guardiola expects: free-flowing, direct and creative. Doku repeatedly put Liverpool’s Conor Bradley in 1-v-1 situations, then capped off the performance with a powerful shot from outside the box to seal the score, a moment that was synonymous with “Pep’s City”.
More than just goals, Doku has breathed life into a system that lacked explosiveness last season. His arrival has given City more pace on the flanks, opening up space for the midfield to operate more smoothly – exactly what Guardiola described as the missing piece.
Key developments: efficient and cold
City opened the scoring with a header from Erling Haaland, putting Liverpool on the run. Nico Gonzalez added a second, cementing the home side’s complete control. Doku then sealed the game with a finish from outside the box – a run of goals that reflected City’s versatility and ruthlessness.
In decisive moments, Guardiola's team showed their true colors: rhythmic in movement, precise in the final touch and cool in the penalty area – football that "only they can do" when in gear.
Impact on the Premier League race
Arsenal still lead, but it’s a stark reminder: when City find their rhythm, they don’t stop until they reach the finish line. The four-point gap before the final international break of the year gives City a familiar psychological foundation – the confidence and winning momentum that has been a trademark of Guardiola’s time.
For Mikel Arteta, this game is a must-watch. Not just because of the score, but because of the way City exploded at the right times: freshness on the flanks, discipline in midfield and the ability to strike with precision when the game allowed.
Post-match statement
Guardiola said simply: “I am very happy. The players gave me a great gift. We played football at the highest level.” The words contained the message: a younger, more passionate Pep, and a Man City that was back to its most dangerous version.
