Pep Guardiola’s milestone of managing his 1000th football match was met with a fitting celebration at the Etihad Stadium, where Manchester City honored him in a way that reflected the many triumphs he has achieved there. The occasion called for a special tribute, and City delivered just that.

While the pre-match montage on the big screens showcased highlights from Guardiola’s illustrious career—featuring the elegance of his Barcelona teams and Manchester City’s historic Treble-winning season in 2022-23—what truly marked this event was not just the retrospective video.

“There’s a bravery to them,” Guardiola commented in the video, reminiscing about the Barcelona teams he once studied. “There’s a willingness to go against the grain,” he added, reflecting on the daring style he has continually promoted.

The true homage came in the form of a goal—a goal that encapsulated the beauty and audacity Guardiola has infused into English football. It was a testament to his philosophy of cherishing possession, using it to dismantle opponents, and playing with a boldness that leaves rivals overwhelmed.

This time, it was Liverpool on the receiving end, facing a decisive defeat that all but dashed any lingering hopes they had of retaining their title. Although four consecutive losses earlier in the season had already dimmed those prospects, Manchester City’s emphatic victory underscored their status as the primary contenders to Arsenal.

Erling Haaland scored once again for Manchester City as they beat Liverpool 3-0 on Sunday

Haaland opened the scoring with this header, with some fortune via Ibrahima Konate

Giorgi Mamardashvili could do nothing but watch as Haaland’s header nestled into his net

It came in the 29th minute and, perhaps because of the landmark, it felt as if this goal was Guardiola’s Manchester City masterpiece. It carried echoes of that great Carlos Alberto goal from the 1970 World Cup final. It was not quite that good but it was an approximation. It was fitting testimony to the greatest coach of modern times and all he has taught.

It was not a set piece. It did not feature a long throw or, indeed, a long ball. It was just a feast of football, from one end of the pitch to another. It was the Barbarians’ try finished by Gareth Edwards, it was Michael Jordan’s fade-away jumper. It was a punt-returner running one back from his own end-zone. It was what English football in the Guardiola era has aspired to.

It went like this. The move started with City boxed in by their own corner flag. Some teams would have hoofed it clear, ceded possession and fought for the ball higher up the pitch. Guardiola’s teams do not do that.

So Foden had the ball by his own goal-line and he guarded it with his life. He shepherded it and got his body in the way of it and held Liverpool players off until he could pass it to Nico Gonzalez. Gonzalez played it towards the touchline to Nico O’Reilly.

O’Reilly played it up the line to Doku, who was untouchable for most of the 71 minutes he was on the pitch. Doku wriggled away from a challenge and cut inside. He played a short ball to Gonzalez, who moved it on to Rayan Cherki, who touched it back to Gonzalez.

And now City had earned themselves some space. Now this was starting to feel majestic. It was the phase of the 1970 goal where Rivellino passes the ball to Jairzinho. Gonzalez strode forward, past the half-way line, and deep into Liverpool territory to the right edge of their box.

The comparison with 1970 falls down a little here. That can happen when Pele is not involved. But it was still beautiful to watch. Liverpool could not get near the ball. Bernardo Silva, Matheus Nunes and Cherki worked intricate patterns with it until it came back to Nunes.

It was time for the coup de grace. Nunes curled a cross around his man and Haaland rose majestically at the back post. The ball flicked lightly off the top of the head of Ibrahima Konate but not enough to disrupt Haaland. It hit the City striker’s forehead and looped past Giorgi Mamardashvili.

For Pep Guardiola, his 1,000th game as a manager ended in the best-possible outcome

For Liverpool, their title defence is crumbling and it’s unlikely they’ll repeat their success

Haaland earlier saw a penalty saved by Mamardashvili when he shot low to the keeper’s left

It was Haaland’s 99th Premier League goal and as team goals go, it is hard to think that he has scored any better. It was the most beautiful moment of a beautiful performance that rolled back the years to when City were kings.

After a cagey opening enlivened by the ferocious running of Doku, Liverpool engineered an almighty escape. When two of their defenders got in each other’s way, Doku pounced on the loose ball and took it around Mamardashvili.

As Mamardashvili slid and Doku danced around him, the goalkeeper’s knee made a faint contact with Doku’s bit but it was enough to send him to the turf. After consulting the pitchside monitor, referee Chris Kavanagh pointed to the spot.

Liverpool were furious, obviously, and protested and delayed for as long as they could. Haaland stepped up to take it and lashed it low to Mamardashvili’s left. The goalkeeper was equal to it and pushed it away with a strong hand. Liverpool celebrated their deliverance wildly.

It was only a short reprieve. It was just before the half-hour when City’s tribute goal to Guardiola began its inception and ended with Nunes’ curling cross and Haaland’s precise header across Mamardashvili into the far corner.

Nico Gonzalez doubled City’s lead in first-half stoppage-time to put them in a strong position

Gonzalez made it 2-0 with this right-footed strike outside of the Liverpool penalty area

Liverpool thought they had equalised eight minutes later with a towering header all of their own. Virgil van Dijk rose highest to meet a corner from the Liverpool right and steered his header expertly across Gianluigi Donnarumma into the net.

Liverpool celebrated in front of the City fans but their joy was short-lived. The linesman – and VAR – judged that Andy Robertson was in an offside position when the ball was headed and that he was directly in front of Donnarumma. This time, it was Arne Slot’s turn to be furious.

What could not be denied was that Liverpool were being tormented by Doku. Conor Bradley had dealt superbly with Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe on Tuesday night at Anfield in the Champions League but neither he nor his teammates could contain Doku.

Three minutes into time added on at the end of the first half, Nico Gonzalez was given more time and space than he should have been allowed and drove a shot towards goal. Van Dijk stuck out his right foot to try to block it but the ball flicked off his boot and took it past Mamardashvili, who was wrong-footed.

Liverpool were beaten. You could see it in that moment. The force was with City. The energy was with them. The emotion was with them. And no one could get close to Doku. He was unplayable.

Jeremy Doku wheels away after scoring a superb third for City against their bitter rivals

Doku curled home this beautiful long-range effort to the acclaim of the Etihad Stadium faithful

He rammed that that fact home midway through the second half. City broke down the left and O’Reilly played the ball back to Doku 25 yards out. Konate stood in his way but Konate was mesmerised by Doku’s speed of thought and foot. Doku feinted left, touched the ball right and bent a brilliant shot beyond the despairing dive of Mamardashvili.

City were rampant. Liverpool were demoralised. Even in the context of their stuttering season, they have not had a beating like this for a long time. At least, they were granted a modicum of mercy when Guardiola substituted Doku with 18 minutes still to play.

They had chances to reduce the deficit, too. Conor Bradley found Cody Gakpo at the back post with a fine driven cross but Gakpo could only fire it over. Mo Salah lifted a delicate chip over Donnarumma but it bounced agonisingly wide of the far post.

It was not their day. They knew that. It was Guardiola’s moment. Let’s face it, it has been Guardiola’s decade. However many games he manages before retirement comes, he will not receive many tributes that will lift his soul as much as the first goal that Manchester City scored against Liverpool on a blustery November day in east Manchester.