Manchester City

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Former Liverpool, Stoke City and Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam has hailed Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola as a "genius", adding that his side can "never be ruled out" of a Premier League title race.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Adam said: "Pep Guardiola is such a good manager because he wants to evolve.

"He has understood what the challenges of the Premier League are and he is willing to change.

"But he has still kept his real strong principles in terms of how he wants to play and how he wants to build.

"Their start to the season wasn't probably what they expected or wanted.

"You can always see them winning 10 or 12 games in a row, without doubt."

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However, ex-Premier League striker Chris Sutton does not believe City are "out of the woods" just yet.

"I still think there is a massive overreliance on Erling Haaland," Sutton explained.

"He has scored 14 Premier League goals so far this season and their next top scorer is on one goal, so if anything happens to him it would still be a concern."

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Manchester City and Real Madrid are both interested in Liverpool and Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, 25. (AS - in Spanish), external

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Manchester City might have made a statement of intent in the title race with their 3-0 win against reigning champions Liverpool last night and moved four points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal before the international break.

But they are still some way off catching the Gunners, according to Opta's Premier League predictions.

The Opta supercomputer's latest update has Pep Guardiola's City finishing about seven points behind Arsenal at the end of the season.

Opta still gives Arsenal 63.6% chance of winning the title this season with City only having a 22.9% chance of becoming champions in the latest set of simulations.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have only a 7% probability of defending their title with Chelsea marked at 2.75%.

Predicted points after 38 games:

Arsenal - 80.19

Man City - 73.50

Liverpool - 68.23

Chelsea - 63.34

Aston Villa - 60.76

Crystal Palace - 59.32

Man Utd - 56.37

Bournemouth - 56.31

Brighton - 55.93

Tottenham - 54.97

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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Manchester City's departed executive Txiki Begiristain has ranked first in a study of sporting directors based on the value added to their club's squad from incoming transfers.

Premier League figures Dougie Freedman, Ross Wilson and Phil Giles also ranked inside the top 10 in the review carried out by industry advisors Transfer Room.

City's spending in the transfer market during Begiristain's tenure at Etihad Stadium has been well-documented, but according to figures, the Spanish transfer specialist added a net value of €455m (£399m) to the squad from 23 players signed at a cost of €875m (£768m) over a 10-year period.

Having joined City in 2012, the 61-year-old left the club earlier this year and was replaced by Hugo Viana.

When he left, chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said: "Txiki is a legend, and I don't use that word lightly. Wat Txiki has accomplished, has been integral in the success of this club part.

"If you're going to go to the Oxford Dictionary and search for 'football director', I think the image and picture of Txiki should be the image that appears."

Freedman, who left Crystal Palace for a position in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, placed third in the study - behind Begiristain and Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Timmo Hardung.

Current Newcastle sporting director Wilson placed fifth with Brentford's Phil Giles in seventh.

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

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Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy described Jeremy Doku's display against Liverpool as probably "the best game he has ever had in a Manchester City shirt", with the winger a constant source of danger in Sunday's emphatic 3-0 win.

City directed most of their attacks down the left flank to get the Belgian running at Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley, who effectively shackled Real Madrid danger man Vinicius Jr in midweek but found Doku an altogether tougher proposition.

Doku had 11 touches in the opposition box, at least five more than any other player from either side, and also led the way in several other metrics, such as shots on target and chances created.

He also had seven successful dribbles, the third-highest figure by anyone in a Premier League match this season.

Statisticians Opta, meanwhile, highlighted that Doku is the first player to score, win at least 10 duels, complete seven dribbles, create three chances and have three shots on target in a Premier League game since Eden Hazard in 2019.

It was undoubtedly a virtuoso performance. The challenge for Doku is to hit these heady heights on a consistent basis.

How good can Doku be? Make your choice here

We asked for your views on Sunday's Premier League game between Manchester City and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Stella: This was an exceptional performance by City and the result accurately reflected their dominance against a very ordinary Liverpool. Jeremy Doku was virtually unplayable, helped no doubt by Mohamed Salah's reluctance to track back and support a run-ragged Conor Bradley. Big shoutouts too to Matheus Nunes, both Nico's (O'Reilly and Gonzalez) plus Pep Guardiola for his selection of Bernardo Silva, who controlled the game's tempo superbly. Arsenal should be very nervous!

Monksie: Excellent aside from a few misplaced passes the team is usually accurate with. Had the same feeling with Doku's goal as I had for Jack Grealish scoring the fourth against Liverpool in April 2023 - the best player on the pitch deserves a goal and thankfully in both cases that's exactly what happened.

Paul: Absolutely unbelievable performance by City. Erling Haaland got his obligatory goal and Jeremy Doku was outstanding. The whole team looked like they had gelled and we made Liverpool look ordinary. Really was men against boys .

Rob: I've been quite critical of City this season, I thought some of the players may not be good enough to challenge. I was wrong. Look at what Pep has done with Nunes and O'Reilly... both midfielders but under his guidance and coaching, they are now two quality defenders who also make a huge contribution going forward. Guardiola is an absolute genius and I do believe he has his mojo back.

Harry: Without disrespect to Liverpool, that game was not even remotely close. Last season we'd have missed that penalty, thrown a tantrum and capitulated but this time we just got better and better. Haaland doing Haaland things again - he's allergic to scoring outside of open play. Doku, oh my - the man should have a red carpet laid from his car to the door of the training ground. his best performance in recent memory and never looked beaten. Couldn't be more proud of these lads. O'Reilly had Salah's number completely and Gonzalez is a mini Rodri. We absolutely played Liverpool off the park and thoroughly deserved the win. Good luck to the Reds for the rest of the season, but this was City's day.

Richard: Absolutely superb result. For the best part of the season we've played very conservative football and still picked up points. Not great to watch but we went for the jugular and it was so much better to watch. Fully deserved result and a statement that we are back. Keep looking over your shoulders Arsenal, as it's this time of year we start the unbeaten run.

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Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku said his side are "seeing the fruits" of their hard work after beating last season's Premier League winners Liverpool in a dominant 3-0 victory.

Doku scored City's third goal but caused Liverpool defender Conor Bradley problems throughout Sunday's game.

"I'm grateful for this performance," he told BBC Radio Manchester. "I'm grateful for the win. As a team we played well from the start against a great opponent.

"We lost a couple of games [at the start of the season], but we knew we were building towards something and today we saw the fruits of it.

"Every game we are going to get better. Everybody knows their tasks and we are delivering it."

Doku played his 100th game for Manchester City on the same day boss Pep Guardiola took charge of his1,000th match as a manager.

"All I can do it be grateful and and hope for more," added the Belgian.

Listen to more from Doku and defender Nico O'Reilly on BBC Sounds

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Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker had high praise for Manchester City on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast after Sunday's dominant 3-0 win over Liverpool.

"City were phenomenal and deserved to win," he said. "That was because of their application and the quality they showed.

"It was the Jeremy Doku show. He was absolutely sensational. He has taken his game to a whole new level. He plays with maturity, a lot more discipline and impacts the game by creating goal opportunities.

"He is playing with a smile on his face and a bit of an arrogance in himself because he knows he can affect the game. That will strike fear into a lot of teams in the Premier League because it is scary how full of confidence he is.

"All over the pitch, City were the better side. It was the most balanced City have looked in a while because they kept their lines tight when usually thy leave themselves vulnerable with that high line.

"Liverpool were sloppy and they never really looked a threat."

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Jeremy Doku was absolutely brilliant for Manchester City in their 3-0 win on Sunday, but Liverpool's tactics were the reason he was able to run riot down their right.

Without Mohamed Salah tracking back, Arne Slot's side were always so vulnerable down that flank and I felt sorry for Conor Bradley, who was trying to stop Doku but had Nico O'Reilly to worry about too.

Even if Liverpool had found some better balance, and had a winger who gave Bradley more defensive support or condensed City's space, then with the way Doku was playing he would still have been almost impossible to stop.

Doku was a pleasure to watch, irrespective of who you support and who you wanted to win. You had to admire his skill, pace, strength and bravery - and his goal was just amazing.

The way Liverpool were set up, though, actually helped him shine.

He was electric and the game's star man. This was the best I have seen him play in a City shirt, but Salah not being asked to defend made it so easy for him.

It became a really productive area of the pitch for City, and was one of the reasons they won so comfortably in the end.

Read more of Murphy's analysis from the game here

Pundits Wayne Rooney and Danny Murphy join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Aston Villa 4-0 Bournemouth

• Brentford 3-1 Newcastle

• Crystal Palace 0-0 Brighton

• Nottingham Forest 3-1 Leeds

• Man City 3-0 Liverpool

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

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Jeremy Doku has been accused, often justifiably, of showing frustrating inconsistency since joining Manchester City in a £55.4m deal from Rennes in August 2023.

The 23-year-old has put all that aside this season to become one of the major catalysts in Guardiola's restructured side, as he proved with an outstanding performance that made life a misery for Liverpool's defence.

Doku gave Conor Bradley, outstanding when Liverpool beat Real Madrid in the Champions League, a torrid time. The Reds right-back was outpaced and turned inside out by sheer speed and power.

It was Doku who set the tone for a City display that was a real statement of intent, not only overcoming the side who have been their main rivals for so long, but also firing a warning to Arsenal that they are now breathing down their necks.

Haaland, as always, was the spearhead, but he was aided and abetted by the promptings of Doku, the revitalised Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva.

Liverpool, champions last season, had their moments in the second half, but City never lost control.

Whenever the hosts were threatened, the giant figure of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma demonstrated that Guardiola has invested in world-class quality. This was never more notable than when the Italian made a flying save from Dominik Szoboszlai.

Guardiola and City travelled through stormy waters last season, but the creation, composure and sheer threat contained in this emphatic dismissal of Liverpool was a clear message that normal service is close to being resumed.

Man City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to BBC MOTD after their 3-0 victory against Liverpool: "Really good first half, they pushed more [in the second half].

"We forget a bit to play especially in the first five or 10 minutes. They lose balls and we created momentum for them. Then they have one or two chances."

On Nico O'Reilly: "Nico O'Reilly was amazing.

"In general, everyone was extraordinary because they are still the champions.

"Sometimes we put a full-back inside, sometimes he has been 10 or eight. He can play. His presence in set-pieces in the long balls is fast. He is clever - he plays really good.

"I think he was really good, he has been doing really good."

On Jeremy Doku: "Listen, I know I'm good, but don't overestimate me. The players do it for themselves. We have to try give them good momentum, and a good connection. Do you think I teach him how to dribble openings? This is natural talent.

"He had an outstanding game against one of the best full-backs in the Premier League."

On landmark 1,000 games: "Just want to say thank you to the players and the backroom staff to give me that present. Proud to do it here in Manchester with my City.

"Now rest and come back with the energy.

"I think my period at Barcelona B is the foundation for many things. To realise myself that I was able to do it and learn a lot.

"I will never forget the guys in that first season. For me, it has been so special to make 1,000 games in front of my family and especially against Liverpool. I have a huge respect for that club."

Listen to more from Guardiola on BBC Sounds

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on City's performance

What did you make of Liverpool's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Manchester City are unchanged from their last Premier League game against Bournemouth, but make three changes to the side that beat Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Captain Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Rayan Cherki all start, with Tijjani Reijnders, John Stones and Savinho dropping to the bench.

Midfielder Rodri is not involved for Pep Guardiola's side.

Manchester City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Gonzalez, Silva, Foden, Cherki, Doku, Haaland.

Subs: Trafford, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Marmoush, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Bobb, Lewis

Liverpool are unchanged from their impressive victory over Real Madrid during the week, which means Florian Wirtz - who was linked with a move to City during the summer - keeps his place in the side.

The Reds have options to bring on in attack as Alexander Isak is on the bench, alongside Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa.

Liverpool XI: Marmadashvili, Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Wirtz, Ekitike.

Subs: Woodman, Gomez, Endo, Kerkez, Isak, Chiesa, Jones, Gakpo, Ngumoha.

There are five games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Aston Villa v Bournemouth - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Brentford v Newcastle - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Crystal Palace v Brighton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3

• Nottingham Forest v Leeds - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Manchester City v Liverpool (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 14:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction from the 14:00 games here

And go here for Man City v Liverpool

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Aston Villa v Bournemouth" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Man City v Liverpool", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Did Liverpool turn a corner with their great win over Real Madrid in midweek? Maybe, but this will show us where they are really at.

I feel like these two teams have cancelled each other out when they have met in recent years, but this time it feels like a game they both have to try to win - and it is Manchester City I'm backing to come out on top.

The big call for all Fantasy Premier League managers is whether to triple-captain Erling Haaland. I'm not going to do that, but I do think he will score. Seriously, how can you go into any game at the moment and think that he won't?

Whoever wins this, I feel like both teams are fighting for second place anyway, because I don't see anyone catching Arsenal now.

People sometimes get angry when I say things like that, but I do think they will win the title from here and I've changed my prediction from before the season started when I went for Liverpool.

I don't often do that so early, but I don't think Liverpool can win it any more. We've already seen in the first 10 games how they are too vulnerable defensively, and then you look at how good Arsenal are at the back.

It is a similar story with City. I feel they will need Rodri at his very best to push the Gunners, but his injury problems don't appear to be over.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here