Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega hit out at Liverpool as “not the best part in the UK” after Pep Guardiola faced chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” at the end of the 2-0 defeat at Anfield on Sunday.
City’s sixth defeat in seven games leaves the champions 11 points behind Liverpool in the Premier League, and Guardiola responded to the taunts by holding up six fingers – one for each title he has won at City.
Guardiola, who is enduring the worst run of results in his managerial career, said after the defeat that he expected more from the Liverpool fans but took the chants in good humour despite his side’s position.
But Ortega, who conceded a penalty in the second half after replacing Ederson in goal at Anfield, responded with a comment about the city of Liverpool after Guardiola was subjected to taunts about the sack.
The goalkeeper told talkSport: “Someone told me before that this area is probably not the best part of the UK. I think the manager reacted really well.”
Liverpool were dominant at Anfield and could have won by more as Arne Slot’s side distanced themselves from Manchester City and dealt the champions a blow in their pursuit of a fifth title in a row.
Guardiola’s six-finger gesture to the Anfield crowd was a rare display of defiance from City and the manager believed he deserved more respect following his battles with Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp over the years.
Guardiola said: “I’m so proud of my six Premier Leagues against that team (Liverpool) and the previous teams. I didn’t expect Anfield to start to chant at 0-2 that I would be sacked.
“Maybe I deserve to be sacked, honestly, with our results, or maybe I’m still in the job because I won six Premier Leagues and a lot of titles!
“But I didn’t expect them to sing at 0-2. Maybe they should sing at 0-1 when the game was tighter or maybe last season or the previous season.
“Maybe in Brighton they did it, so I understand, but at Anfield I didn’t expect it. But it’s fine. It’s part of the game. When you win, you laugh, when you lose, they laugh. I have to accept it.”
Slot, who has now won 18 of his first 20 games at Liverpool in a dream start for the Dutchman, said he did not feel sympathy for Guardiola and said he expects City to bounce back soon.
“You feel sympathy or empathy with the managers in a really bad place, they have lost many games or are down at the bottom of the league,” Slot said.
“But Pep has won so many things, so no-one has to feel empathy or sorry for Pep. Maybe other managers, but not Pep. He will be able to bring City back.”
