It looked the hardest journey on what could prove his farewell tour. For Pep Guardiola, perhaps, but also for Bernardo Silva. The Manchester City midfielder had warned his teammates that defeat at Anfield could bring the end to their title challenge. “Maybe I’m more optimistic than them,” said Guardiola, when informed of his captain’s comments. It was a rare moment when Guardiola and Silva were not in harmony.
But if Silva ends the season, and potentially his City career, with his hands on the silverware, his own sense of urgency may be a reason why. Consider Silva’s reaction when equalising at Anfield; not celebrating but retrieving the ball from the net, running back to the halfway line. “Bernardo gave a signal to the whole club and the fans – let’s have it,” said Erling Haaland. “He wanted the second goal.” He got it, too, his pass releasing Matheus Nunes, who was upended for a penalty that Haaland converted.
