Manchester City deliver 'good present' in Pep Guardiola's landmark 1000th game with 'extraordinary' victory over Liverpool

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Pep Guardiola was full of praise for his Manchester City side after they swept champions Liverpool aside to claim a 3-0 victory in the Spaniard's 1000th game as a manager. Guardiola, who has also managed Barcelona and Bayern Munich during his illustrious career, praised Jeremy Doku, Nico O'Reilly and his "extraordinary" team for a performance at "the highest level".

Beating Liverpool 'an incredible present' on Guardiola's 1000th game as manager

Video credit: SNTV

Pep Guardiola said that his Manchester City players gave him a "good present" with a performance of "the highest level" in his 1000th managerial match.

City dominated reigning Premier League champions Liverpool to seal a 3-0 win at Etihad Stadium and put pressure on leaders Arsenal, who dropped two points in a draw against Sunderland on Saturday.

Guardiola's landmark game was a memorable one, as Erling Haaland, Nico Gonzalez and Jeremy Doku got themselves on the scoresheet in the pouring Manchester rain.

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"My players gave me a good present with this performance against the champions," Guardiola told Sky Sports after the game.

"We had to perform good and many good things happened. They all performed to the highest level.

"Defensively, it was really good. We know their threat in behind with Mo [Salah] and the quality of [Dominik] Szoboszlai and [Florian] Wirtz and we have incredible energy with our people. Playing at home and winning is good for the international break.

"Gigi [Donnarumma] made the saves he should. Both the full-backs were outstanding. The midfielders gave us a lot of passes and control. Of course, the threat of Jeremy [Doku] was outstanding alongside Erling [Haaland]."

Doku 'outstanding' and O'Reilly 'amazing'

Guardiola revealed that he would return home and celebrate the victory in his 1000th game with his family to kickstart the international break.

But before that, the Spaniard gave credit to winger Doku, who produced a Player of the Match display, which included an emphatic strike for City's third goal.

"One of the best by far, for influence," Guardiola replied when asked if it was one of Doku's strongest games in a City shirt.

Speaking to the BBC on Doku, he added: "Listen, I know I'm good, but don't overestimate me. The players do it for themselves. We have to try to give them good momentum and a good connection. Do you think I teach him how to dribble openings? This is natural talent.

"He has an outstanding game against one of the best full-backs in the Premier League."

Left-back Nico O'Reilly was "amazing" on Sunday, according to Guardiola, days after the 20-year-old received his second call-up to Thomas Tuchel's England squad.

"In general, everyone was extraordinary because they are still the champions," the Man City boss said.

"Sometimes we put a full-back inside, sometimes he has been 10 or eight. He can play. His presence in set-pieces in the long balls is fast. He is clever - he plays really good.

"I think he was really good, he has been doing really good."

With a second successive Premier League victory under their belt, City are now just four points adrift of Mikel Arteta's Gunners, who lead the way heading into November.

Next up for City is a difficult away trip to Newcastle United, who have lost their last two games against West Ham United and Brentford.

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