Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One app.

Start reading

Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles. One news app.

Start reading

The Guardian - UK

Sport

John Brewin

All that was missing was Alan Ball's flat cap

Pep Guardiola enduring a Famous European Night at Anfield. Photograph: Carl Recine/Reuters

STRICKEN ONCE MORE

Had José Mourinho not decided it meant something completely different then Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City might have been a perfect demonstration of “football heritage”. Football clubs never quite escape their histories. A look at the likely last four of this season’s Champions League – Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern and Liverpool – would tell you that.

All the petrodollars in the Arabian peninsular couldn’t prevent City reverting to historic type at Anfield on Wednesday night. “Like United, you’re living in the past,” sang City fans, going full Alanis Morissette. Their heroes in laser blue proceeded to reveal they are not actually the best team that has ever played in England ever. Even Pep Guardiola, chancellor of the Etihad Campus, cannot cure “Cityitis”.

During a horrendous first-half performance, Nicolás Otamendi and Vincent Kompany channelled 90s anti-heroes Alan Kernaghan and Michael Frontzeck. And in dropping Raheem Sterling to the bench in favour of flooding the midfield, Guardiola made the kind of tactical rick that used to get the Kippax groaning at Alan Ball. All that was missing was the flat cap.

And meanwhile, Liverpool lived out one of those “famous European nights at Anfield” as legal statute requires it to be described. Jürgen Klopp’s team seethed with energy and vigour as if possessed by the ghosts of predecessors such as Dalglish, Souness, Traoré and Biscan.

The bragging rights and giddiness now reside on Merseyside, give or take a heroic comeback next week in Manchester where substitute Claudio Bravo scores a last-minute equaliser and then does a Bruce Grobbelaar in a penalty shoot-out. Perhaps City didn’t actually want to win the Champions League anyway, what with the competition being run by the hated Uefa, they of Financial UnFair Play sanctions. Ah well, on to Saturday and shoving Mourinho’s football heritage up his hooter by securing the Premier League.

LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE

Join Paul Doyle for minute-by-minute coverage of Arsenal 3-1 CSKA Moscow in Big Vase.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It was a duel between two players that resulted in him breaking his finger. I’m not frustrated. If I could give a pair of gloves to both of them and say ‘start to fight’ and they have a fair fight and it would result in a better shape for the team and a better atmosphere, then I would say the result is good” – Barnsley manager Jose Morais doesn’t seem overly concerned that goalkeeper Nick Townsend is out for the season after an altercation with defender Dimi Cavare.

RECOMMENDED VIEWING

Manchester City’s Manel Estiarte films missiles, bottles and flares being thrown at the team bus as it approaches Anfield on Wednesday night.

THE FIVEЯ

Yes, it’s our not-singing, not-dancing World Cup Fiver. Out every Thursday lunchtime BST.

SUPPORT THE GUARDIAN

Producing the Guardian’s thoughtful, in-depth journalism – the stuff not normally found in this email, obviously – is expensive, but supporting us isn’t. If you value our journalism, please support us by making a one-off or recurring contribution.

FIVER LETTERS

“I thought you might like my thoroughly underwhelming story. Many years ago I was stood at a bar opposite the BBC trying to order a pint of lager. There were several ‘c’ list celebs all being fawned over by the barman and I could not catch his eye. Who should pop up at the bar three or four feet away, none other than Ray Wilkins. The barman went straight to Ray asking what he would like. Ray put his hand up to stop the barman, pointed to me and said: ‘This fine young chap was here long before me.’ I nodded my thanks and completely missed the opportunity to buy him a drink. Footballing legend and gentleman” – Marten Allen.

“It’s not fair to blame Pep for City’s defensive flaws against Liverpool. Blame the Kompany he keeps” – Mike Wilner.

Send your letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. And if you’ve nothing better to do you can also tweet The Fiver. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’the day is … Marten Allen.

THE RECAP

Get the best of Big Website’s coverage sent direct to your inbox every Friday lunchtime (GMT). Has the added bonus of being on time. Sign up here.

BITS AND BOBS

Wolves will take no action against 16-year-old ball boy Tom Aitchison, who took the law into his own hands when snaffling the ball from under the dithering feet of Hull manager Nigel Adkins and then offering a “hand gesture”.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has no regrets about becoming a Gunner. “When I heard I could swap Manchester United for Arsenal, I said: ‘Yes, I want to do that’. I didn’t think twice. It’s important for me to play in an offensive team,” he cheered, presumably not referring to Arsenal’s performances against Tottenham, Manchester City and Brighton.

Burnley goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard has put pen to paper on a new contract to remain at Turf Moor for another season. “Lindegaard has been on the bench for the past 27 Premier League games, providing back-up for Nick Pope in the absence of injured club captain Tom Heaton,” roared Burnley in a statement. “And with Heaton closing in on a return to first-team contention and Lindegaard signed up, the Clarets’ goalkeeping department remains in safe hands.”

Stoke may welcome back the fit-again Kurt Zouma for their game against Tottenham at the weekend. “I know who’s going to play already,” boasted manager Paul Lambert.

Carlos Carvalhal says he is focused on Swansea’s relegation fight, not on extending his tenure at the club. “I talk with the chairman every week, we talk often about the past, present and future,” intoned the Portuguese. “These are normal things.”