Guardiola says he was targeted by objects during fiery Liverpool clash

Mueez Ajao

– Pep Guardiola said he was targeted by coins thrown from the stands during Manchester City’s 1-0 defeat at Liverpool, which ended the Premier League champions’ unbeaten start to the season.

– Mohamed Salah’s 76th-minute goal — his ninth in 16 games against City — was enough to win the game for the home side, who saw manager Jurgen Klopp sent off for berating an assistant referee.

– City looked to have taken the lead on 53 minutes through Phil Foden, but after the goal was disallowed for a foul by Erling Haaland on Fabinho following a VAR check, Guardiola turned to the crowd in the main stand and goaded the Liverpool fans to make more noise.

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– Reports claimed that City will lodge a complaint about objects — identified as coins — which were subsequently thrown at Guardiola.

– And while confirming the alleged incident, Guardiola said he was targeted rather than hit by the objects.

– “Next they will do it better,” he said. “They didn’t get me. They try it again next year.

– “All these coins, they tried, but didn’t get it. They got the coach years ago.”

– When asked whether he had incited the crowd with his actions, Guardiola said: “They shout, we shout more. Otherwise here in this stadium …

– “After the goal was disallowed, the game was calm. After the goal was scored it was the real Anfield; that’s normal.”

– Klopp, meanwhile, said that his red card for criticising the officials for failing to award a free kick following a Bernardo Silva foul on Salah was “probably deserved.”

– But the Liverpool manager remained angry about the failure of referee Anthony Taylor to award the free kick.

– “I lost it and I apologise — in the end, probably deserved, but you cannot have this situation.” Klopp said. “It is the clearest foul I ever saw in front of the linesman, and he [referee] is not bothered.

– “It is clear. They just watch the game, but we [the managers] are involved.”