A CLEARLY unhappy Kevin de Bruyne had words with manager Pep Guardiola after being subbed off against Liverpool.
The Manchester City star got an assist in the first half of the clash with a corner-taken quickly style pass for John Stones‘ opener at a corner.
Kevin De Bruyne fumed as he left the pitch against Liverpool
APHe had stern words with manager Pep Guardiola at his substitution[/caption]
PAGuardiola had subbed him off in the 69th minute[/caption]
PADe Bruyne calmed down a bit while sitting with his team-mates[/caption]
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.
This was not a decision De Bruyne, 32, agreed with, and he made his feelings known as he argued with his boss on the touchline.
Man City’s talisman then went on to have a heated exchange with members of the coaching staff.
Eventually he appeared of 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 war of words once again, though this time the conversation appeared far less animated.
Speaking on Sky Sport co-commentary, Gary Neville believed there was something in the air at Anfield which tipped City off balance.
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He said: “Usually 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.
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.
Meanwhile, City are one point behind the other two but have an inferior goal difference.
De Bruyne struggled to get into the game as much as usual but was effectiveness when he was involved
