A CLEARLY unhappy Kevin de Bruyne had words with manager Pep Guardiola after being subbed off against Liverpool.
Man City’s talisman then went on to have a heated exchange with members of the coaching staff.
KdB, 32, got an assist in the first half of the clash with a sharp corner for John Stones’ opener.
However, after Ederson gave away a penalty for fouling Darwin Nunez early in the second half, which was duly converted by Alexis Mac Allister, the Belgian’s influence on the game waned.
Guardiola, 53, eventually decided he had seen enough in the 69th minute and replaced him and Julian Alvarez with Mateo Kovacic and Jeremy Doku.
De Bruyne appeared far from happy with the decision, and he made his feelings known as he argued with his boss on the touchline.
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Man City’s talisman then went on to have a heated exchange with members of the coaching staff.
Eventually he appeared to have calmed down when he was sat among the other City players.
That was until Guardiola went over to the bench minutes later.
The former Barcelona boss could be seen sitting down next to De Bruyne on the bench, with the duo engaging in a frank exchange of words once again.
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De Bruyne could be seen gesturing with his hand to somewhere on the pitch, presumably somewhere he felt there was a gap to exploit.
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Speaking on Sky Sport on co-commentary, Gary Neville believed there was something in the air at Anfield which tipped City off balance.
On De Bruyne’s reaction to the sub, Neville said: “He’s having a whinge. He’s having a proper whinge.
“It just tells you a little bit about how City have become frustrated in this second half.”
He added: “Usually they’re the master of cool. But this ground does something to them.”
Doku managed to strike the post before he was involved in a VAR penalty check in his own penalty box the final minute.
However, the game would end 1-1 despite a late Liverpool flurry of attacks mainly spearheaded by a wasteful Luis Diaz.
Pep’s view
Guardiola and De Bruyne shared a hug on the pitch afterwards.
Guardiola said on the incident: “That’s good. Have a chance next game to prove it.
“We need a player who keeps the ball. Its not about pressing. Kovacic is really good at that.
“We were happy with Kevin. It’s not a problem. We’re fine.”
The two sides cancelling each other out meant Arsenal were left top of the Premier League, level on points with Liverpool but crucially ahead on goal difference.
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Meanwhile, City are one point behind the other two but have an inferior goal difference.
Jurgen Klopp furiously confronted referee Michael Oliver at the end of the game to protest the decision to not give a penalty to the Reds at the end of the match.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
