Pep Guardiola has stoked the fires ahead of next week’s Premier League trip to leaders Liverpool by accusing their Senegal international forward Sadio Mané of diving.
Guardiola was speaking after a dramatic day for the leading duo, who both scored late goals as they came from behind to win–Manchester City beating Southampton 2-1 at homeandLiverpool winning 2-1 away to Aston Villa.
Mané scored Liverpool’s winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time at Villa Park, but had seen yellow for simulation in the first half of the game.
“It has happened many times, what Liverpool have done, in the last few years, it’s because [Mané] is a special talent, “Guardiola told BBC Sport.
“Sometimes he’s diving, sometimes he has this talent to score incredible goals in the last minute. He’s a talent.”
Liverpool had trailed to Trézéguet’s 21 st-minute goal but finally drew level when Andrew Robertson scored in the 87 th minute before Mané’s winner.
“If it’s one time, two times, ‘we were lucky, we were lucky’, but it happened in the last two seasons many, many times–they have a special character to do that, “Guardiola said of Liverpool’s late goals.
“We look at ourselves, we know which team we face, I think they have won 10 and drawn one week we go to Anfield to try to play them. “
City, who have not won in the league at Anfield since 2003, will start Sunday’s match six points behind Jürgen Klopp’s side.
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