Pep Guardiola surprised by sack chants as Liverpool beat sub-par Manchester City - 'I didn't expect that at Anfield'

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Manchester City are now without a win in seven matches across all competitions after their 2-0 defeat against title rivals Liverpool. The home crowd had some fun with City boss Pep Guardiola during the match, suggesting he was going to be sacked in the morning. Guardiola responded by raising six fingers to signify his six titles, admitting that he did not expect to hear the chants at Anfield.

'Maybe I deserve to be sacked' - Guardiola on being taunted by Liverpool fans

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Pep Guardiola was surprised to hear Liverpool fans jokingly call for his sacking as Manchester City fell to a 2-0 defeat at Anfield.

The Reds took the lead in the 12th minute through Cody Gakpo before Mohamed Salah made sure of the points from the penalty spot after half-time.

Salah's goal sparked chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" from sections of the Anfield crowd.

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Guardiola responded by holding up six fingers, seemingly alluding to the number of Premier League titles he has won.

After the clash, the Spaniard admitted he did not expect to hear the chants at Anfield.

"All the stadiums want to sack me, it started at Brighton," he told Sky Sports. "Maybe they are right with the results we've been having.

"I didn't expect that at Anfield. They didn't do it at 1-0, but at 2-0. Maybe they should have sung it in the past.

"I didn't expect it from the people from Liverpool, but it's fine, it's part of the game, and I understand completely. We've had incredible battles together. I have a respect for them.

"I am here sitting as a manager and defending what we have done in the past thanks to them [Manchester City's players] and more than ever I want to be with them and hug them."

Guardiola believes his side could still come good this season, despite a difficult run of results.

"There is a moment where maybe it will click," he added. "Today, Kevin [De Bruyne] played good minutes, Jack [Grealish] played well in that position and Jeremy [Doku] played good minutes after a month out.

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"Bernardo and Rico [Lewis] have a lot of minutes in their legs. Nathan [Ake] was exceptional against maybe one of the great wingers.

"I congratulate Liverpool, they deserve the victory and we accept the situation right now, and we'll build from that."

The result means City are fifth in the Premier League table, without a win in seven games across all competitions, and 11 points behind league leaders Liverpool.

They will take on Nottingham Forest on Wednesday, while The Reds will travel to St James' Park to face Newcastle United.

Arne Slot believes his side had to be at their best to get the three points against Manchester City.

"If you want to win against City you have to be perfect in every part of the game," Slot told Sky Sports.

"We came close to perfection. We weren't perfect, but we came close to perfection. That's the only way to beat City.

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"I don't think anyone, including me, would have predicted this [start]. I knew Jurgen [Klopp] left the team in a good place.

"But still, against all the teams we have played. We're not the only ones. I saw Arsenal yesterday and City, they will come back."

Slot believes his side could have been more clinical in front of goal despite the impressive victory.

"Yeah [it was almost a perfect match], and if you look at the work-rate, I think it was perfect," he added.

"The amount of chances we missed made it tight at the end, but maybe that's nice for matches like this.

"It should be like this, but it would have been nicer to score the second goal earlier.

"We always press high, but they're so good at build-up. So you have to work very hard. Our players had energy. Apart from our players, the crowd was fantastic today as well."

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