Doku is a transformative image of this new Metropolis.
The 23-year-old has gone from being an unquestionably gifted winger, however typically maddeningly inconsistent, to the good catalyst behind a lot of their finest moments this season.
He gave Conor Bradley, excellent in Liverpool’s win towards Actual Madrid within the Champions League, a horrible time. Bradley was run ragged by the tempo and bodily presence of Doku – though certainly no-one might address the Belgian on this kind.
Doku was merely unstoppable, a participant now in full flower after lastly changing into accustomed to Guardiola’s excessive calls for following a £55.4m transfer from Rennes in August 2023.
Rayan Cherki provides subtlety in midfield, whereas Phil Foden is again to his finest and Bernardo Silva nonetheless has all of the previous guile to maintain Metropolis shifting together with his prompting.
It was a convincing win in each manner, giving Arsenal and their supervisor Mikel Arteta – previously Guardiola’s assistant – a hefty serving to of meals for thought over the worldwide break.
For Liverpool, this was a return to earth with a convincing thud after their current upturn.
They now languish in eighth place, eight factors behind Arsenal and 4 adrift of Metropolis, however with momentum stalled. Liverpool’s tally of 5 defeats this season now eclipses the 4 they suffered after they received the title.
And there are nonetheless disturbing indicators that Liverpool have but to adapt to the summer time inflow of virtually £450m price of recent expertise.
Hugo Ekitike, one of many successes, was subdued right here whereas £125m fellow striker Alexander Isak was an unused substitute after three weeks out with a groin damage.
It was one other day of struggling and disappointment for £116m playmaker Florian Wirtz, whose struggles had been made worse by the taunts of Metropolis’s followers, remembering how he turned down a transfer to Etihad Stadium so as to be part of Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen.
Wirtz, at this stage, clearly struggles with the physicality of the Premier League. The expertise is clearly there, however too usually he’s shrugged off simply in possession.
It’s one thing he should get used to and counter-act. Inevitable barracking got here Wirtz’s manner with a chant of “what a waste of cash” from jubilant residence followers when he was changed by Federico Chiesa seven minutes from time.
Guardiola, in the meantime, revelled within the victory however seemed ahead to the video games that can comply with the worldwide break.
“Now relaxation and are available again with the vitality,” he mentioned, earlier than reflecting on the pathway that introduced him to this stage of a outstanding teaching life.
“I believe my interval at Barcelona B is the muse for a lot of issues. To understand that I used to be capable of do it and study lots.
“I’ll always remember the blokes in that first season. For me, it has been so particular to make 1,000 video games in entrance of my household and particularly towards Liverpool. I’ve an enormous respect for that membership.”
This was Guardiola’s day of celebration. And Metropolis made it an event to recollect.
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