The manager of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola believes that he was cheated when he led his team to play against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, October 3, 2021.
His major cause of concern was an incident that happened in the second half of the thrilling encounter which saw James Milner commits a foul on Bernardo Silva.
"It should’ve been a red card… They’ve got away with one Liverpool." 😅
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) October 3, 2021
How on earth did James Milner not get sent off for these two challenges!?
His smile on the bench says it all 😬
More | https://t.co/bF0Gwr7LPb#PL #OptusSport pic.twitter.com/Syc5hFln9E
Before Milner committed the challenge which Pep Guardiola believed was a punishable offense, the 35-year-old English midfielder had received a yellow card in the first half for his tackle on Phil Foden. Hence, Guardiola expected the referee to show him a second yellow card followed by a red card.
But referee Paul Tierney and the Video Assistant Referee did not deem the challenge fit enough for a booking. Tierney only cautioned Milner verbally. Hence, Liverpool continued with the thrilling encounter with 11 men.
When Milner went unpunished for the challenge, Guardiola was so furious on the touchline that he had to rant furiously to express how displeased he was.
He tried to convince the match fourth official, Mike Dean to make the referee reconsider his decision but his protest could not change anything.
That Pep Guardiola reaction in full after James Milner wasn't given a yellow card… ⏪🔍
— emersson k massawe (@emanuelmassawe) October 3, 2021
🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/3DhRCBtiPB
To avoid any incident that would force the referee to show Milner a red card, Liverpool’s coach, Jurgen Klopp decided to replace him with Gomez in the 78th minute when the scoreline was 2-1 in favor of Liverpool.
Less than four minutes after his exit, Manchester City attacking midfielder, Kevin De Bruyne equalized in the 81st minute.
After the 2-2 draw, Pep Guardiola told everyone who cares to listen that Milner’s tackle on Silva deserved a yellow card.
He alleged that his team does not always get fair decisions when they play Liverpool at Anfield and Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Guardiola said: “It’s a yellow card. It’s a yellow card. It’s clear.
“But it’s Anfield, it’s Old Trafford. In our situation, a City player is sent off. It’s clear. It was a second yellow.
The Spanish tactician also told BBC that: “It was a yellow card, it was too obvious. I know for referees it is not easy at Anfield and Old Trafford – there is a lot of pressure for everyone.
“Football is about emotions but it is obvious it is a yellow card.”
He did not stop there, Pep Guardiola took the agitation to the pre-match press conference and analyzed how important a second yellow card to Milner would have been for the outcome of the “tight” game.
“He has to show the yellow card to me [for remonstrating] but before he has to show the second one [to Milner],” he stressed.
“In these games, so tight… he has to. It doesn’t mean you are going to win against Liverpool in Anfield but it is obvious, [he needed] to give James the second yellow.”
"OBVIOUS!" 😡
— Manchester City News (@ManCityMEN) October 4, 2021
Who else is still fuming that James Milner didn't get sent off last night? pic.twitter.com/mhO5ktqlHR
Pep Guardiola confirms that Liverpool fans spet on Manchester City officials
The battle for the three points at Anfield was not only between Manchester City players and Liverpool players; Liverpool’s spectators at the stadium went as far as spitting on some Manchester City’s backroom staff.
Reports in the United Kingdom confirmed that Manchester City have officially written to Liverpool to complain that Liverpool’s fans spet on City’s officials on Sunday.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Pep Guardiola said though he did not witness when Liverpool’s fans were spitting on his backroom staff, he has been officially notified that the incident happened.
“[The staff] told me but I didn’t see it,” Guardiola said.
“I’m pretty sure Liverpool FC will take measures against this person. I know they are greater than this behavior.”
The 2-2 draw Manchester City recorded at Anfield has taken the reigning Premier League champions to the 3rd spot on the league table with 14 points in 7 games, two points away from first-placed Chelsea. While Liverpool dropped to the second spot on the league table with 15 points in 7 games.
