Premier League
Liverpool Face Man City Side With No Excuses As Pep Guardiola Gets Last Chance
If a team is said to be made in their manager’s image, then a battered and bruised Pep Guardiola was the personification of Manchester City’s recent problems on Tuesday night.
It looked for all the world as though a shocking regression was about to be halted when City took a three-goal lead against Feyenoord at the Etihad, only to collapse in the final 15 minutes and see the Eredivisie side emerge with a Champions League point.
A run of five successive defeats was at least brought to an end, but you’re still thinking about the bad news aren’t you, Pep? Guardiola emerged from the sanctity of the dressing room after that game with a cut visible above his nose and a number of scratch marks emblazoned across his forehead.
His less-than-tactful attempt to explain away the wounds as joking self-harm led to a statement being released apologising on his official social media channels on Wednesday, but it would be churlish to rake the City boss over the coals too much for that poor attempt at deploying a defence mechanism.
It does at least show how intense and passionate the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss still is about events on the pitch, but it was also an intriguing snapshot in to just how stressed and stretched things are at the Etihad just now. The fact he was asked about the marks is proof of just how evident it all was to those at the game earlier this week.
What is more pertinent for those of a City persuasion is just how confidence-shot they all look at present. Injuries have bitten down hard but for arguably the wealthiest club in world football, that cannot be reached for as genuine mitigation. Using it as a defence only underlines the fact that City’s recruitment has not been on point for a couple of years, the capture of Erling Haaland aside.
It’s instructive to just how tough City are finding things right now that a five-game sequence of largely shock defeats was brought to an end on Tuesday night and the situation was still somehow inflamed further by the manner of how they did it.
And what might just have led to a further scratching of a Guardiola head already full of angry welts was the fact that the side who inflicted the late and dramatic crumbling at the Etihad were singing the name of the current Liverpool boss by full time.
Arne Slot paid tribute to those Feyenoord supporters who still worship him over that mark of respect, saying he had to turn the television up from his home to hear just how “special” the moment was and while it was a heartwarming message reserved for their former boss, it will not have been lost on Guardiola either, who may just be forced to hear it again on Sunday, only this time in a louder, more Scouse twang.
“We have always had respect,” an embattled Guardiola said on Friday. “Like in the past, fighting the biggest battles ever against Liverpool, always a big consideration for this football club. Nothing changes, they have lost one game in all competitions. That means they are so stable and that is really good because we will learn from that.
“Always (against Liverpool) it has been the toughest. But now in the last years have been Arsenal, but over the years Liverpool has been the toughest one, definitely.”
Sunday presents the chance for Slot and his team to turn the pressure up to 11 as they go in search of a barely believable double-figure lead in the Premier League over their great rivals.
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**Title:** Croatia confirm Slaven Bilic return as former West Ham boss replaces Zlatko Dalic **Meta Description:** Slaven Bilic has been appointed Croatia head coach for a second spell after Zlatko Dalic stepped down following the 2026 World Cup. **Slug:** croatia-confirm-slaven-bilic-return-head-coach **Alt Image Text:** Slaven Bilic during his unveiling as Croatia national team head coach — # Croatia confirm Slaven Bilic return as former West Ham boss replaces Zlatko Dalic Croatia have officially confirmed the return of Slaven Bilic as head coach, with the former West Ham United manager replacing Zlatko Dalic following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Bilic returns to the national team after more than a decade away, ending a two-year absence from management as he begins a second spell in charge of his country. ## Bilic begins a second spell with Croatia The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) announced Bilic’s appointment after the Executive Committee unanimously approved the recommendation of federation president Marijan Kustic. Bilic previously managed Croatia between 2006 and 2012, guiding the national team through two European Championships before embarking on a successful club coaching career that included spells with West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion, Besiktas and Al-Ittihad. The federation believes his experience and deep understanding of Croatian football make him the ideal candidate to lead the next generation. ## Huge task replacing Zlatko Dalic Bilic succeeds one of the most successful managers in Croatia’s history. Dalic stepped down after the 2026 World Cup, bringing an end to a remarkable tenure that included a World Cup final, a World Cup semi-final and several memorable tournament campaigns. Federation president Marijan Kustic acknowledged the size of the challenge but expressed complete confidence in Bilic. > “I would like to once again thank Zlatko for the exceptional results he achieved during his tenure. It is not easy to follow in his footsteps, but we are convinced Slaven is the right person for this role.” Kustic added that Bilic’s international pedigree and extensive coaching experience were decisive factors behind the appointment. ## Bilic honoured to return Bilic described his return as the greatest honour of his coaching career and admitted he understands the expectations that come with leading one of international football’s most consistent tournament teams. > “I would like to thank President Kustic and the Federation’s leadership for the confidence they have shown in allowing me to lead the Croatian national team once again — the greatest honour for any Croatian coach.” The 57-year-old also praised the standards established under Dalic while insisting he is ready for the responsibility. > “I am fully aware of the high expectations that follow such a remarkable period under Zlatko Dalic, but anyone who takes charge of Croatia must be prepared for that because we are a football nation that lives and breathes its national team.” ## A new chapter begins Bilic now faces the task of building on Dalic’s legacy while preparing Croatia for the next international cycle. With a blend of experienced stars and emerging young talent at his disposal, Croatia will hope their returning manager can guide them to another successful era on the international stage.
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