Pep Guardiola Takes Aim at Liverpool After Community Shield Collapse
MANCHESTER — Liverpool’s bruising penalty defeat to Crystal Palace has drawn an unlikely voice into the post-match storm — Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola — and his comments have only deepened the wound.
Speaking after City’s own fixture, Guardiola didn’t name names, but his jab left little room for misinterpretation:
“I said it the moment he left Liverpool — they would suffer without him, and that’s exactly what happened today. They lacked the creativity he brings, the spark that changes games. The Liverpool I saw today, especially with these two they’re trying to build the squad around, won’t go far in the Premier League. Mark my words — without a player like him, their fall is only a matter of time.”
The remark instantly went viral, with fans speculating that Guardiola was referring to a former Liverpool midfield conductor — the kind of player who could control the tempo, split defences, and rescue games with a single pass.
Liverpool’s display at Wembley only fuelled the narrative. Despite dominating possession, they struggled to carve open Palace’s back line, eventually stumbling in a shootout that exposed their attacking bluntness.
On social media, the frustration was palpable.
“We need to ask for his forgiveness for letting him leave 🙀😱🙀,” one supporter wrote.
Whether Guardiola’s words were rooted in genuine observation or classic mind games remains up for debate. What’s certain is that his comment has thrown fresh spotlight on Liverpool’s creative void — and turned up the pressure on Arne Slot to find solutions fast.
