It was a night of pure delight for Manchester City supporters and total despair for Liverpool fans as Pep Guardiola marked his 1000th game as a club manager with a commanding 3-0 victory over the Premier League champions.
Softfootball understands that city are coming off a 4-1 demolition of Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League last week, City carried their European momentum into domestic action, dismantling Liverpool with a blend of precision, control, and relentless pressing. While City fans hailed the win as vintage Guardiola, Liverpool’s faithful were left deflated, questioning Arne Slot’s tactics and the team’s direction after another dismal away display.
Manchester City Fans Praise Pep and the Team’s Perfect Tribute
For City supporters, this wasn’t just another win — it was a statement that Guardiola’s men are back to their ruthless best.
@mohitpawar captured the mood:
What a fucking win… and congratulations to Pep for his 1000th game as a manager!
@nijran added:
The team gave a perfect tribute to Mr. Pep today. They were spot on with their positions, passes, and always had the foot on the pedal. Pure attacking brilliance matched with astute defence!
Others echoed the belief that this was the City of old. @offthecrossbar wrote:
Guardiola has got his team where he wants them again. This is City of old. This is the City we remember, dominating games. Perfect tribute to the manager by his players.
The club itself joined in the celebration, posting on their official X handle Pep Guardiola’s comments after his 1000th win as a club manager, they posted:
Haaland, Doku, and Nico Steal the Show
City fans were full of admiration for the standout performers on the night, especially Doku, and Nico.
@man_citylad raved:
Fernandinho was special, then Rodri arrived. Rodri is our boy but Nico has his back — what a game. Speaking of Nico, Salah was non-existent. O’Reilly shut him down. Doku, I’m speechless — fucking amazing!
@pistol provided a detailed summary:
Doku by far the best player on the pitch, absolute demon. Nico 2nd best, what a player defensively, just a bit rash. Dias consistency continues. Haaland is inevitable despite PK miss.
@hereisevent summed it up with joy:
A truly great day! An exceptional night for City and Pep! There’s nothing better than winning your 1000th game! Congratulations, Citizens! Come on City
City Fans Bask in Dominance and Bragging Rights
The mood among City supporters was one of pride, swagger, and vindication.
@roman_calculus wrote:
Well-deserved win, the perfect exclamation point on a landmark day for Pep. Shout-out to him for what he has done with this team after last season’s disappointment. To everyone who wrote him and City off, they are coming for Liverpool’s crown.
@themancitylad flexed City’s recent dominance:
We beat the champions of Italy (Napoli) , champions of relegation (Man UTD) , and champions of England (Liverpool) . Put some respect on my club.
@krmostwane added:
Finally we have a goalkeeper that can keep a clean sheet against Liverpool and Salah. I love the performance we had — we’re on the right track.
And @andredubois summed up the night’s message:
Manchester City thrashes Liverpool under Slot 3-0, a result that reflects the difference between a solid project and another that still hasn’t found its direction. The Reds spent millions this summer, but money doesn’t buy identity. Guardiola once again proves who’s in charge in England.
After the game Manchester City via its official X handle shared an exclusive video showing pep guardiola reacting and thanking the fans for his 1000th victory as a club manager. They posted:
Liverpool Fans Vent Frustration at Slot’s Decisions
For Liverpool fans, it was another painful watch — one that continued an alarming run of poor form.
@vik didn’t hold back:
7 losses in 10, 4 away losses in a row, awful away performance once again. Slot will carry on making us worse. Three months in and we’re fighting for top 4. Well done everyone, you guys are so f***ing SHIT.
@petersmith lamented the lack of squad balance:
Thank goodness this pain is over. We need to rethink the team. We miss Diaz — Doku was that for City today. We need better wingers and a new backline too. This season is gone, might as well do a complete do-over.
@olagamr offered cautious optimism:
Poor performance, poor result. Maybe this fixture came a little too soon considering recent form, but I’m holding out hope. We need to get back on it in the next game.
Liverpool’s captain Virgil van dijk was not shy of words for his team’s performance. In a statement shared via the teams official X handle, the Liverpool captain had a lot to say. They posted:
@diego directed his anger at the manager:
We have a manager that’s afraid of his own players. How did he manage to watch Salah stink up the pitch for 90 minutes and not replace him with Chiesa?
@gianwillian was more reflective:
Bad day at the office. This is not our season. Arne can make the adjustments like Pep did last year. We need smart recruitment and to fix areas we ignored in the summer.
Anger, Acceptance, and a Bit of Banter
A mix of frustration and sarcasm rippled through Liverpool’s fanbase after the defeat.
@mrvicso quipped:
So we produced two of our best performances since last season against Villa and Madrid, only to follow it up with an absolute stinker against a not-so-impressive City. Just great.
Some looked for silver linings. @ebriteas joked:
I see this defeat in a positive light. Losing by only 3 to this great City team is something to celebrate. At least we played with grit and courage.
But the anger eventually boiled over. @askhat ranted:
Chris Kavanagh is a C U N T. Michael Oliver is a C U N T. But this doesn’t change the fact we played like a mid-table club today. No pattern, no identity. All attack came after going 2-0, 3-0 down. Embarrassing for Premier League champions.
After the game, Liverpool manager spoke to the press shared via the team’s YouTube channel, the Dutch manager expressed his frustrations at the poor performance of his teams and hopes the results improve going forward as they can’t afford to drop any more points if they are to defend their PL title they won last season. Watch the full post match conference below:
Looking Ahead
For Manchester City, this win capped off a perfect week — a dominant 4-1 Champions League victory over Dortmund followed by a clinical performance against Liverpool. Pep Guardiola’s 1000th managerial win was more than symbolic; it reestablished City as the benchmark of excellence in English football.
For Liverpool, the defeat was another stark reminder of how far they’ve fallen. With seven losses in ten games and four straight away defeats, Arne Slot’s project is under growing scrutiny. A response is needed — fast — before the Reds’ season unravels completely.
