Jack Grealish has detailed how Pep Guardiola insisted Manchester City 'stay in the game' at half-time before they blew Liverpool away in a 4-1 win at the Etihad.
The teams went into the break level at 1-1 after Julian Alvarez cancelled out Mohamed Salah's opener, with City enjoying most of the ball but Liverpool dangerous on the counter. Kevin De Bruyne tapped in to finish off a brilliant move less than a minute into the second-half, setting the tone for 45 minutes of dominance from the home side.
Ilkay Gundogan made it three on 53 minutes before Grealish - who was Man of the Match - fired home a well-earned fourth with 15 minutes remaining. City were on top in the first-half but it was the second 45 minutes in which they blew Liverpool away.
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"We obviously had a chat between ourselves and with the manager," Grealish said after the final whistle. "He just said we have to stay in the game. I thought we were good in the first-half apart from the goal. I was in the toilet I felt sick all morning but I was buzzing in the end."
Another brilliant performance from Grealish was well worth the goal and assist he managed, and the 27-year-old's form was summed up when he tracked back and chased down Salah with his side 1-0 down at the time.
He came off to a standing ovation from the Etihad crowd and a big hug from Guardiola, admitting he is loving his football at the minute despite feeling a little under the weather.
The City star also sent a warning to Arsenal, insisting his side will push them all the way in the title race.
"I love football and I love playing, I love training, and when it’s going well and stuff like this there’s nothing better" he added. "I’m back to my normal self now, back to full fitness, I’m feeling confident, and scoring today and getting the assist is perfect.
"Obviously you know [Arsenal] are a great team, it’s in their hands at the moment so we’re just gonna keep doing everything we can to try and chase them, we’ve just got to keep winning games."
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