Steve Nicol, a Liverpool legend, criticized Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola for his gesture during the Reds’ 2-0 win at Anfield on December 1. After Liverpool fans began chanting “Sacked in the morning” towards Guardiola following Mohamed Salah’s penalty, the City boss responded by raising six fingers, symbolizing his six Premier League titles.
Nicol, speaking on ESPN FC, expressed his disapproval of Guardiola’s reaction, especially after the match. He stated, “The first time he did it, I thought it was okay. But the second time, after the game, I thought it was a bit crass. It showed that things are getting to him.” Nicol pointed out that Guardiola had never experienced this kind of pressure before, given his success at City, and suggested that the situation was starting to affect him.
Guardiola, however, defended his gesture in his post-match press conference, explaining that he was proud of his six Premier League titles, particularly considering the challenge posed by Liverpool under Jürgen Klopp. He said he was surprised by the Anfield crowd’s chants and speculated that perhaps his poor results this season had led to such a response. Guardiola acknowledged his team’s struggles but maintained that the respect from other clubs, including Liverpool, was evident through his record of six Premier League titles.
City are currently fifth in the Premier League, 11 points behind league leaders Liverpool, and will face Nottingham Forest next on December 4.
