A changing of the guard is happening at Manchester City and it was on display against Liverpool | OneFootball

Although Manchester City went down to a 2-nil defeat to Liverpool at the Etihad yesterday there were positives for Pep Guardiola’s side to take out of the game. There were signs that both in and out of possession that City did resemble a Pep Guardiola side. At times during the second half, they did press Liverpool into error and play with the control in possession that we have become accustomed to seeing from a Pep Guardiola team. Although they did lack any real threat up front but that should return when Erling Haaland returns from injury. They were also caught out defensively at times but that should improve in time and with new summer signings.

But another fact stood out yesterday at the Etihad. There is a changing of the guard happening at Manchester City. You could see it when the starting lineups were announced prior to yesterday’s match. There was a more youthful look to Pep Guardiola’s starting lineup. The average age of Manchester City’s starting lineup as per SofaScore was 24.7 years of age. That’s one of the youngest starting lineups Pep Guardiola has deployed during his reign.

Even Pep Guardiola’s first substitution was to replace Kevin De Bruyne with James McAtee. It was clear to see that Pep Guardiola is now planning for Manchester City’s future. You could mount the argument that perhaps it is too late in the season for that. It should of occurred earlier. But it is now happening and the hope is that the bulk of the players who started yesterday continue to do so for the remainder of the season. That way they can develop their games under Guardiola and learn his tactics and demands and also play together. That will build continuity for what lies ahead for Manchester City’s rebuild.

Summary.

But it is clear that a changing of the guard is now happening at Manchester City. City’s next era of dominance will be built with Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Omar Marmoush, Savinho, Jeremy Doku, Nico, Josko Gvardiol, Abdukodir Khusanov, Rico Lewis, Vitor Reis and others at the heart of it. They are Manchester City’s future. We got a glimpse of what that could look like against Liverpool yesterday. Although Pep Guardiola’s side didn’t win the match they showed enough to suggest that City are on the right track. There will be teething problems along the way which was seen yesterday but the changing of the guard is happening at the world champions. We may now see more glimpses of it across the closing stages of the 24/25 season.