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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Bernardo Silva 'attack' on Mohamed Salah exposed as Pep Guardiola fumes at Liverpool break

Liverpool secured their best result of the season so far with a memorable win over Manchester City on Sunday.

A breakaway goal from Mohamed Salah was sufficient to earn the Reds a third successive win over Pep Guardiola's champions during a volatile clash. The result means Jurgen Klopp’s side have moved up to eighth in the table having registered only their third Premier League win of the campaign.

But there was plenty that went unnoticed or under the radar during the 90 minutes at Anfield.

READ MORE: FA condemn Man City chants at Liverpool as probe launched into Pep Guardiola allegations

READ MORE: Man City claim team bus attacked again after Liverpool defeat

Bernardo gotta Bernardo

Is there a more annoying footballer at present than Bernardo Silva? City's chief wind-up merchant was at it again on Sunday, irking the Liverpool players and crowd with his usual brand of Bernardoesque antics.

None more so than with the foul on Mohamed Salah that ultimately led to the sending-off of Jurgen Klopp. And if the Reds boss was fuming at that, he'd have been even more outraged at footage that later appeared to show Silva aiming an elbow and leg at Salah as the pair got back to their feet.

In the furore that followed, Silva fronted up to Salah again and then went to take on Virgil van Dijk until noticing the physical mismatch and thinking better of it. Wise choice, Bernie.

Pep the clairvoyant

Having admitted before the game he was always freezing on the Anfield touchline, Pep Guardiola was his usual agitated self on his latest visit to the stadium.

And he knew exactly what was coming 14 minutes from time when Salah rolled Joao Cancelo and began haring down on Ederson in the Manchester City goal.

As the play progressed, Guardiola could be spotted dropping to his knees with his head in his hands before the inevitable conclusion of his team going behind. Pep knows, you know.

Alisson saluted

The goal, of course, came from a long punt upfield from Alisson Becker, reminiscent of Salah's famous strike against Manchester United in front of the Kop in January 2020.

And while the Egyptian again celebrated in front of the bouncing stand, Alisson was being mobbed inside his own penalty area with defenders Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and James Milner joining the Brazilian in a group hug.

Alisson now has one goal and three assists in the Premier League. No keeper has ever had more goal involvements in the competition's history.

Foden miracle

It was a surprisingly bruising encounter between the Premier League's two best clubs of recent times, with a physical edge that helped elevate the atmosphere and booking count.

During the first half, City feared the worst when Phil Foden went down in the Liverpool half, with the game nevertheless going on for some while despite the winger laying prone on the turf.

Well, at least until the ball came near him when Foden suddenly got to his feet and joined in the City attack, much to the chagrin of the home support. They should have been grateful, however - Anfield had clearly witnessed a miracle.

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