Pep Guardiola’s side might have created a host of chances and dominated possession but there were very few positives to be gleaned from Manchester City’s 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace. If Liverpool beat Arsenal on Wednesday, the gap at the summit will be down to a point; if Jurgen Klopp’s men then avoid defeat to lowly Watford, City will kick off at Burnley on April 2 in second place.
But some of us are wired differently and, in Bernardo Silva’s case, powered by an everlasting battery. Higher stakes of a must-win showdown with Liverpool next month? Sign him up. Admittedly, Bernardo, we wish you’d not missed a sitter in either half while covering 12.4km at Selhurst Park to help engineer the situation, but here we are.
"It is still better to be in our position than Liverpool’s, but it is very tight,” he said. “We have been in front of [Liverpool] plenty of times and we have been behind them for two seasons as well.”
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During the most successful era in Manchester City history, Bernardo has been one of Pep Guardiola’s best players. Against the most formidable rival of that era, Bernardo has been City’s best player.
Great sporting achievements can most easily be measured by the rivals you face, rise to and beat. Liverpool - the sight of them, the mere prospect of them, ignites something in Bernardo. Where we might have expected a crestfallen figure discussing a night of personal and collective disappointment in south London, we found a man with a sparkle crackling in his eyes.
However long he remains with City, the Portugal international’s performance in the pivotal 2-1 win over Jurgen Klopp’s side in January 2019 is likely to remain his defining display. Brilliant on the ball as usual, he was a relentless menace off it - making 76 pressures over the course of 90 minutes of perpetual motion.
That was a huge contest that the April 10 showdown at the Etihad Stadium will dwarf in terms of importance. The following season, City had to applaud Liverpool onto their own field as champions, with Bernardo’s apparent disdain for the convention as he stood unkempt and clutching a brew clear for all to see.
Such small details are what makes a cult hero, but Bernardo was back doing what he does best in last season’s 4-1 win at Anfield. Then he was the best player on the park - complete with a logic-defying dribble - in this season’s thrilling 2-2 draw.
"We were eight points in front of them and now if they beat Arsenal it is just one,” he conceded. “Still, it is better to be in our position than theirs. They still have to come to our home.”
Our home. That’s the sound of Bernardo laying down the challenge to City fans. Bring the noise against Liverpool like he does every single time. Let’s do this together - it might be one to tell the grandchildren about and, if it is, you'll probably be telling them about Bernardo Silva.
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