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The Norwegian scored a penalty and a sensational strike from the edge of the box, mere days after being substituted at half-time due to injury

Manchester City came into Tuesday's game with Young Boys well aware that a victory would secure early passage into the Champions League knockout rounds, and they duly delivered, thanks in no small part to Erling Haaland, who was only deemed half-fit before the game.

Fresh from being substituted at half-time against Bournemouth with a twisted ankle, the Norway international opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Matheus Nunes was fouled by Sandro Lauper in the penalty area, coolly sending the goalkeeper the wrong way from 12 yards. Phil Foden then added a second with a glorious finish, curling the ball into the bottom corner after a superb pass from Jack Grealish.

Strangely, at half-time, John Stones was withdrawn, potentially with an injury, but that didn't slow City down, as Haaland then scored the third just five minutes after the restart, as he rifled an absolutely stunning strike from the edge of the box into the top corner.

Lauper was then sent off for a second booking two minutes later, and with 10 men, Young Boys naturally retreated, allowing City to have a host of chances to extend their lead, although they were strangely profligate in front of goal following a slew of substitutions.

GOAL rates City's players from the Etihad Stadium…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Ederson (6/10):

  Barely troubled throughout a quiet night.

  Kyle Walker (7/10):

  Drove an excellent free-kick at goal, forcing a good save. Rarely in danger in defence but got up and down well. Replaced on the hour by Phillips.

  Ruben Dias (7/10):

  He may never have an easier night. Organised and cajoled constantly.

  Josko Gvardiol (6/10):

  Was able to step up routinely and was strong in his distribution.

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  Midfield

  John Stones (6/10):

  His usual economical self in possession in midfield before his surprise withdrawal at half-time. It remains unclear if he is injured or if he was merely being rested.

  Rico Lewis (7/10):

  Denied only by a brilliant goal-line clearance early on. Moves the ball so well; City have a player on their hands here.

  Matheus Nunes (6/10):

  Won City's penalty with a clever piece of control in the area and kept looking to get forward, although his finishing left something to be desired.

  Mateo Kovacic (7/10)

  Danced through Young Boys' defence to win a free-kick early on. Superb footwork and a level above the visitors' midfield. Replaced by Doku late on.

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  Attack

  Phil Foden (8/10):

  Scored a superb goal, collecting Grealish's pass and driving into the box before curling an effort into the bottom corner. Some excellent touches when under immense pressure, as Young Boys doubled up on him.

  Erling Haaland (9/10):

  Scored coolly from the spot after Nunes was brought down, then completed a stunning brace with a fierce effort from the edge of the box that was rifled into the top corner. Subbed for Bobb on the hour. A sensational showing, and even more so given that he was subbed at half-time at the weekend.

  Jack Grealish (7/10):

  Provided an excellent assist for Foden and played some truly sumptuous passes. The defence could not get near him at times.

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  Subs & Manager

  Nathan Ake (6/10):

  Subbed on at half-time. Had more time on the ball in Young Boys' half than his own.

  Oscar Bobb (6/10):

  On for Haaland. Some promising touches but the 20-year-old could not fashion a chance for himself.

  Kalvin Phillips (6/10):

  A rare appearance as he came on for Walker on the hour. Saw a shot deflected just wide of the post but kept City ticking from deep.

  Jeremy Doku (7/10):

  On for Kovacic late on. Almost provided an assist for Nunes immediately but the midfielder fluffed his chance. Some truly outrageous trickery, as he almost mocked Young Boys' defence.

  Pep Guardiola (7/10):

  A straightforward night at the office. City were always likely to win and they did, as Guardiola fielded a strong XI and rotated after the hour mark, with the game already won.

Lionel Messi is reluctant to make Antonio Sanabria famous by discussing a spitting incident that occurred during Argentina’s win over Paraguay.

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• All-time great in qualification action
• Stepped off the bench after nursing knock
• Focused on picking up three points

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi started that game on the bench, as he has been nursing an injury since the last international break, but was introduced in the 53rd minute. That was enough time for him to come close to scoring on a couple of occasions, but an early effort from Nicolas Otamendi ended up settling a tight contest.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Messi was involved in one unfortunate incident that saw Paraguay striker Sanabria spit in his direction, but the World Cup winner was unaware of those actions at the time and refused to be dragged into a debate regarding them afterwards for fear of giving “importance” to a player that he claims to know nothing about.

• WHAT THEY SAID

  Messi told of the spitting saga: “My team-mates told me about it in the locker room. It is better to leave the issue alone.”

  The all-time great added: “I don't know who this guy is and I don't want to give him importance either, because if he gets that he's going to go out and talk everywhere and he becomes known.”

  Messi preferred to discuss the fact that he was able to get more game time under his belt after seeing just 72 minutes of action for Inter Miami since last turning out for his country. The iconic 36-year-old added: “I'm happy to play again and add minutes. It is always difficult to enter and even more so in such a tight game. The important thing is that we won and at times we played very well, especially in the first half.”

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Argentina will be back in 2026 World Cup qualifying action next Tuesday when taking in a trip to Peru, with there a chance that Messi has already played his last domestic minutes of the season for Inter Miami – as they have missed out on the MLS play-offs.

Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale appears to have responded to Jamie Carragher’s “Oscars” jibe by pointing out that he has always been a team player.

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• Arteta favouring Raya at present
• England international on the bench
• Supporting team-mates from the sidelines

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The England international has lost his place in the Gunners team over recent weeks, with Mikel Arteta favouring summer signing David Raya between the sticks. That has left Ramsdale stuck on the sidelines, with a role among the substitutes being taken up.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  It was while occupying a spot on the bench during a thrilling north London derby clash with arch-rivals Tottenham that Ramsdale was spotted applauding Raya for a stunning save from Brennan Johnson. Carragher said on Sky Sports afterwards of the cameras cutting to Ramsdale: “I thought it was like the Oscars, you know when someone loses the Oscar and they start clapping and smiling for the other person. I was laughing when I saw that. He's absolutely devastated with that really.”

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Said comments attracted criticism from Ramsdale’s father, who replied to a tweet about Carragher’s quip by saying: “You are a disgrace!! Show some class!! My lad has.” The 25-year-old shot-stopper has now shared images within an Instagram story of him previously celebrating the exploits of team-mates.

  Instagram

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• WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Ramsdale has posted an image from his time at Bournemouth, which shows him celebrating with fellow goalkeeper Mark Travers following a penalty shootout victory, while also including a picture of him joining in the celebrations which accompanied Reiss Nelson’s dramatic winner against Bournemouth last season. Ramsdale may find himself back in action for Arsenal on Wednesday as Mikel Arteta is expected to make changes for a Carabao Cup third-round clash with Brentford.

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Gareth Southgate can finally deliver silverware if he deploys the world-class trio in Germany next year

England are back at the top table of international football. Gareth Southgate didn't just pick up the pieces following a devastating Euro 2016 exit at the hands of Iceland, he made a whole country start believing again.

The limitless promise of the squad was clear after they secured a semi-final berth at the 2018 World Cup, which was followed up by a scintillating run to the European Championship final three years later. England ultimately failed to bring home silverware for the first time since 1996 as Italy won a gruelling contest at Wembley on penalties, but it was far from the end of the road.

Southgate's men breezed through to the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar last year, and really should have gone further. France emerged with a 2-1 victory as England were made to pay for missed chances after dominating the majority of the game.

It was arguably the best overall team performance of Southgate's reign to date given the calibre of the opposition. The Three Lions have come a long way in a short period of time and there is no doubting the quality in their ranks, but Euro 2024 will only be about one thing: winning.

And if England are to finally lift a major trophy in Germany next summer, Southgate must play his strongest possible side. That means Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Phil Foden lining up in a midfield three throughout the tournament.

Recent history proves that a conservative approach won't take England to the promised land. It's time for Southgate to put 100 percent faith in his best players and finally unlock the team's full potential.

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  Best in the world

  Bellingham, Rice and Foden have all enjoyed meteoric rises to the elite stage, displaying a maturity and coolness under pressure belying their tender age. How far they go is entirely in their own hands.

  Motivation won't be a problem if the start of the 2023-24 season at club level is anything to go by. Real Madrid and Arsenal spent huge money to sign Bellingham and Rice respectively, but both men are already starting to pay it back with their stellar performances.

  Bellingham has hit five goals in his first four games for Los Blancos, and won the Liga Player of the Month award for August. The 20-year-old looks right at home under the bright lights at Santiago Bernabeu.

  Right now, no one else can claim to rival Bellingham as the best all-round midfielder in the European game. The former Borussia Dortmund talisman is deceptively strong, adept at dribbling in tight spaces, an intelligent passer and a devastating finisher – which is why he will almost certainly go on to become one of the greatest players of his generation.

  Rice doesn't boast the same kind of match-winning qualities, but he is also a master of his position, and has already made the transition across London from West Ham to Arsenal look easy. He's an excellent reader of the game, tenacious and composed on the ball , with a penchant for popping up in great positions – as evidenced by his game-clinching goal against Manchester United last weekend.

  Compared to his two England team-mates, Foden has had a more subdued impact in the early stages of the new campaign. The 23-year-old failed to find the net in City's first four games as they stormed back to the top of the Premier League with maximum points.

  But Foden has recorded three assists, including one in an impressive victory over Newcastle that saw him run the show from the right flank. It's getting harder and harder for Pep Guardiola to rotate Foden as he looks more like the true heir to David Silva with each passing game.

  The fact that England can call upon these three players at any one time gives them a huge advantage over any other nation. And together they can carry the squad to glory.

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  Underwhelming alternatives

  When England were beaten by France at the 2022 World Cup, Southgate opted for Jordan Henderson to complete his midfield alongside Rice and Bellingham, with Foden pushed further forward to support Harry Kane. Henderson has never been the most creative or forward-thinking player, and although he was key to the Three Lions' defensive set-up against Les Bleus, he lacked composure at key moments.

  Henderson also underwhelmed upon his return to Liverpool, and was ultimately deemed surplus to requirements after Jurgen Klopp's side slumped to a fifth-place finish in the Premier League. The 32-year-old subsequently completed a controversial transfer to Al-Ettifaq, reuniting with Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard in the process.

  Southgate has continued to select Henderson in England's latest European Championship qualifying campaign, and the midfielder is adamant that he can still be an asset for his country despite plying his club trade in Saudi Arabia. But the reality is, he shouldn't be in the Three Lions's starting XI going forward.

  Beyond Henderson, Southgate has two other obvious options in central midfield. City's Kalvin Phillips, who partnered Rice in a pivot at Euro 2020, and Manchester United new boy Mason Mount.

  Phillips endured a nightmare debut season at City after joining the club from Leeds, and barely played any role in their treble triumph amid persistent struggles for fitness. The 27-year-old now appears to have put his injury woes behind him, but still can't get into Guardiola's team.

  Mount also finds himself at a frustrating point in his career, having left his boyhood club Chelsea on the back of his worst campaign in the famous Blue shirt. Supporters and pundits alike were stunned when United forked out £60m ($75m) to prise him away from Stamford Bridge, and a glowing endorsement from Erik ten Hag did little to change that.

  The doubts only increased after Mount's first two competitive appearances for United, as he cut an anonymous figure in an unconvincing 1-0 win over Wolves before being given the run around by Tottenham's midfielders in a 2-0 defeat in north London.

  Mount also picked up a hamstring injury in that clash, which ruled him out of England's latest set of qualifiers. The former Chelsea man was once dubbed 'teacher's pet' as one of the mainstays in Southgate's line-up, but he now has a lot of work to do to even get back into contention for an international call-up.

  The fact is, England do not have a great deal of strength in depth behind Bellingham, Rice and Foden, which is why it would make little sense to keep them apart.

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  The Maddison option

  The only man who might push for a spot in the centre of the pitch is Tottenham's new talisman: James Maddison. Spurs snapped the 26-year-old up from Leicester City for £40m ($49m), which is already looking like the best piece of business from the summer transfer window.

  Ange Postecoglou's side have stormed to second in the Premier League table with three wins and a draw from their opening set of matches, and Maddison has been key to their resurgence. The ex-Leicester playmaker has scored twice and set up another two already, leaving many to wonder why United went for Mount instead of him.

  Maddison has also forced his way into the England picture over the past year – a deserved reward for his hard work. There is certainly an argument to be made for him to fill a midfield slot at the Euros.

  There are few players with a more varied passing range than Maddison, who can also find the net himself from almost any angle with his wand of a right foot. He's also a free-kick specialist capable of maximising England's aerial threat in the box.

  Southgate could quite easily deploy Foden on the wing again in order to accommodate Maddison in a deeper role, especially if he continues to shine for Spurs in the coming months. However, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish will also both be eyeing that crucial spot on the left of the attack.

  As good as Maddison is, England would be more balanced with Foden in midfield. He can still make an impact in the final third from that position, but will also be able to dictate the pace of games in a way that Maddison cannot.

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• Alexander-Arnold conundrum

  If Southgate is feeling especially bold when the Euros roll around next June, he could also decide to move Trent Alexander-Arnold into a more attacking position. The Liverpool man wasn't getting a look-in at right-back with Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier and Reece James all preferred for their defensive qualities.

  But Alexander-Arnold showed his unique value in a thumping 4-0 away win over Malta in June. He was a constant menace on the right side of England's midfield three, and scored a thunderous goal from 25-yards out that put Southgate's side in full control of the match.

  In defence, it has often been suggested that Alexander-Arnold is a liability due to his lack of positional awareness, but he was an asset rather than a hindrance against Malta and rightly kept his place in the team for a subsequent home fixture against North Macedonia.

  England ran riot at Wembley, thumping their opponents 7-0 thanks to a hat-trick from Bukayo Saka, a brace from Kane and goals from Rashford and Phillips. Alexander-Arnold didn't score, but he was once again one of the best players on the pitch, and also notched an assist for good measure.

  When it comes to executing defensive-splitting passes and pin-point crosses, there is no one better than Alexander-Arnold. But it's unclear whether he would be as effective in midfield against stronger opposition.

  England have also been adept at sticking to a strict shape when out of possession under Southgate, and Alexander-Arnold might disrupt that harmony. Bellingham is far more disciplined, which is why he should still be first choice on the right.

Axel Tuanzebe could emerge as a West Ham target this summer, an Irons insider has claimed…

What’s the word?

According to the ever-reliable ExWHUemployee, the Manchester United defender is someone that Hammers boss David Moyes likes and a potential loan-to-buy deal could happen if the club does not land other targets.

Speaking on a recent episode of ‘The West Ham Way’ podcast, he said:

“Speaking of Manchester United, it’s been confirmed that Axel Tuanzebe is available on loan.

“Now I do know that David Moyes likes him, so he could be someone who we potential look to loan with a clause to buy – that’s if we don’t get our other targets.”

Indeed, it’s thought that the 23-year-old centre-back will request a loan move away from Old Trafford this off-season in order to gain regular first-team minutes.

Next Ferdinand

It could be argued that signing defensive reinforcements is a low priority at the London Stadium right now but Moyes could soon have a shortage of options, with Fabian Balbuena leaving next week as well as the futures of Issa Diop and Winston Reid in doubt.

That could leave the Scot with just Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna as his only two recognised centre-backs, and both are in this thirties.

At just 23, Tuanzebe could prove to be an interesting solution, particularly if it’s initially on loan as it would save the Irons plenty of funds that could be used to bolster other areas.

Despite being highly rated by the Red Devils’ hierarchy, the 6 foot 1 defender has been restricted to only 37 appearances since his debut in January 2017.

He’s gone out on loan before, winning promotion to the Premier League at Aston Villa, but he has still struggled to find a way past the likes of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly in the pecking order.

The £7.2m-rated gem is versatile enough to play at right-back and in midfield too, drawing comparisons to ex-Bayern star Javi Martinez, though it is his comparisons to a former Hammer that is even more exciting.

It’s thought that Tuanzebe could go on to become Man Utd’s next Rio Ferdinand, a player who started his career in East London.

Last season, the former England U21 international drew high praise from his manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after a particularly emphatic display against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

“It’s an unbelievable performance by him. He’s only trained for a couple of weeks and he’s absolutely spot on,” claimed the Norweigen to the club’s official website.

“Axel’s a tremendous defender, a great leader. He’s come through the Academy and we’ve known for years that he’s going to be a top player for us and he’s got the character and the attitude that a Man United player should have.”

Given the likely central defensive situation at the club heading into pre-season, Moyes would be crazy to not try and push for Tuanzebe on loan. He could be a bargain fix to a likely problem.

AND in other news, ExWHUemployee drops gutting transfer claim that’ll leave fans GUTTED…

Pep Guardiola was involved in a hilarious exchange with a traffic warden after being given a parking ticket – with a picture request being snubbed.

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• Catalan coach facing a fine
• Has laughed off incident
• Focused on pursuit of points

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Manchester City manager found himself on the wrong side of the law after leaving his vehicle on double yellow lines. He must now pay a fine, although that should not be too much trouble for a man working on a reported £379,000-a-week contract at the Etihad Stadium.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Guardiola was able to laugh off his indiscretion after being confronted by a traffic warden when returning to his illegally-parked car. After being asked for a selfie, the Catalan coach said: “You want a picture? You have to pay for the picture!”

• AND WHAT'S MORE

  Guardiola, who has spent seven years at City and is tied to a deal through to 2025, guided the Blues to a historic Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup Treble triumph last season – with the UEFA Super Cup added to his collection of honours in the current campaign.

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  City have taken maximum points from their opening two games in 2023-24 – seeing off Burnley and Newcastle – and will be back in action on Sunday when taking in a trip to newly-promoted Sheffield United.

Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr was removed from Los Blancos' starting XI against Atletico Madrid due to an injury sustained in the warmup.

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• Vinicius was set to start against main rivals
• Sustained an undisclosed injury minutes before the game
• Brahim Diaz replaced him in the starting XI

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Madrid suffered a major blow prior to kick off of their clash with Atleti, as they had to make do without their star man. The Brazilian was withdrawn just minutes before kick-off, leading to mass confusion among fans at the Santiago Bernabeu.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Brahim Diaz replaced Vinicius in the lineup, and made an immediate impact, bagging the opening goal of the game within 20 minutes. Vinicius was included on Carlo Ancelotti's bench, but the Real boss decided against throwing him into the game in the second half, and the La Liga leaders were eventually pegged back in stoppage time by an equaliser from Marcos Llorente.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Real fans will hope Vinicius does not face any more time on the sidelines, with the Brazilian having struggled with his fitness in the first half of the season. The 23-year-old has been vital for Ancelotti's side since his return, most notably scoring a hat-trick in Real's 4-1 Super Cup final win over Barcelona.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR VINICIUS JR

  Vinicius will be determined to be available next Saturday, when his side take on Girona in a potential title decider. Real are favourites for the La Liga title after pulling clear of arch-rivals Barca, but Girona have been the surprise package of the season so far and won't go down without a fight with only two points currently separating the two teams at the top.

As Everton, Leicester and Leeds prepare for a tense Sunday in the fight against the drop, GOAL remembers some all-time classics…

Everton, Leicester or Leeds, then? Only one of those clubs will be playing Premier League football next season, and fans of all three will be put through the wringer on Sunday, as this season’s relegation battle draws to a dramatic conclusion.

As things stand, Everton are the team with their fate in their own hands. Beat Bournemouth at Goodison Park and the Toffees are safe. Fail to do so, and either Leicester, who host West Ham, or Leeds, who face Tottenham at Elland Road, will have the chance to take advantage.

It promises to be a thrilling, tension-filled afternoon, the kind we have seen before many times in Premier League history. Here, GOAL takes a look at some of the most memorable final-day relegation battles down the years…

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  1993 – Oldham epic

  It feels incredible to think, given where they are now in the National League, that Oldham were founder members of the Premier League back in 1992. And Joe Royle’s side actually secured a second top-flight season too, staying up courtesy of a crazy 4-3 win over Southampton at Boundary Park on the final day of the inaugural campaign.

  Oldham had actually needed to win each of their final three matches, including games against Liverpool and title-chasing Aston Villa, to secure survival. They did so, ensuring that Crystal Palace, who lost at Arsenal on the final day, were relegated instead. 

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  1994 – Everton's Great Escape

  He only scored three goals for Everton, but Barry Horne will forever have a place in Goodison Park history. So too, will Graham Stuart, whose two goals either side of Horne’s 35-yard screamer, secured the Toffees’ Premier League survival on one of the most nervous final days in English football history.

  Everton needed to beat Wimbledon at Goodison to have any chance of survival, on a day when no fewer than four teams were in danger. When the Blues fell 2-0 down in the first half, the game looked up.

  But Stuart converted a controversial penalty before Horne unleashed his thunderbolt to level the scores. Even then, Everton were heading down until Wimbledon goalkeeper Hans Segers dived over a low Stuart strike, nine minutes from time, to seal their survival.

  Down instead went Sheffield United, who at one point in the day had been as high as 15th in the table but who fell to a last-minute defeat at Chelsea. It would 12 years before the Blades would return.

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  1997 – Juninho's tears

  What a strange old season Middlesbrough had in 1996-97. They reached both the League Cup and FA Cup finals, delighted neutrals with the likes of Juninho, Emerson and Fabrizio Ravanelli, and yet found themselves relegated on the final day of the season.

  The iconic image was of Brazil playmaker Juninho, crying on the turf at Elland Road after a final-day in which Boro’s draw with Leeds, coupled with Coventry’s surprise win at Tottenham, had sent the Teesiders down.

  The die was really cast, though, back in December, when Middlesbrough had failed to fulfil a league game at Blackburn, citing an outbreak of illness within the squad. The three-point deduction subsequently imposed by the Premier League cost them dear. Had they played the Blackburn game, even with a youth team, Boro would have survived by a point.

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  1998 – Everton's Great Escape: Part II

  Goodison, no doubt, will rock on Sunday, but it will have to go some way to top the atmosphere of May 1998, when Gareth Farrelly’s finest moment in a blue shirt ensured yet another great escape on the final day.

  Everton, facing Coventry, needed to better the result of Bolton, who were away at Chelsea, to stay up. Farrelly’s early goal set them on their way, and when the late Gianluca Vialli put Chelsea ahead at Stamford Bridge, all looked well.

  But Nick Barmby missed a penalty at Goodison and then, to home fans’ horror, Dion Dublin squeezed in an equaliser. Had Bolton scored then, Everton were down.

  They didn’t, despite Chelsea fans ironically cheering them on. Jody Morris killed the game in stoppage time at the Bridge, and Everton survived, by the skin of their teeth.

The defending champions may have been without Erling Haaland, but they still had enough firepower to see off the Reds at the Etihad Stadium

Manchester City shrugged off the absence of Erling Haaland through injury as they kept up the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal with a 4-1 win over Liverpool on Saturday.

City did fall behind to Mohamed Salah's strike, but went into the break level as Julian Alvarez – the man chosen to replace Haaland – fired home from Jack Grealish's cross.

Kevin De Bruyne then finished off a fine move to give City the lead inside the first minute of the second half, before Ilkay Gundogan and Grealish netted to seal a deserved win for the defending champions.

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GOAL rates City's players from the Etihad Stadium…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Ederson (6/10):

  Could do nothing about Salah's opener. Distribution excellent, as always.

  John Stones (6/10):

  Played in midfield as much as right-back, and was solid in both roles.

  Ruben Dias (6/10):

  Perhaps left too much space between himself and Akanji for Salah's strike, but otherwise decent enough.

  Manuel Akanji (6/10):

  His physicality made it a struggle for Liverpool to create outside of counter-attacks.

  Nathan Ake (7/10):

  Another performance to illustrate how he has been City's best defender this season.

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  Midfield

  Kevin De Bruyne (7/10):

  Showed his full array of passes yet again. Popped up with the important second goal.

  Rodri (5/10):

  Caught too far forward at times which allowed Liverpool to counter effectively. Perhaps fortunate not to be sent off in the first half.

  Ilkay Gundogan (7/10):

  Workmanlike, while his weight of pass is superb. Gave City control with a calm finish for the third.

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  Attack

  Riyad Mahrez (7/10):

  Excellent assist for De Bruyne's goal and also played a part in Gundogan's strike as he caused Robertson plenty of problems.

  Julian Alvarez (9/10):

  Played a hand in each of the first three goals as he stepped in for the injured Haaland. Already looks a £14m bargain even if he doesn't start every week.

  Jack Grealish (9/10):

  Brilliant tracking back stopped Salah from setting up Jota to make it 2-0, before moments later he assisted Alvarez's equaliser. Got his deserved goal to seal victory inside the final 20 minutes.

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  Subs & Manager

  Bernardo Silva (N/A):

  Replaced Rodri late on.

  Cole Palmer (N/A):

  On for Grealish in the closing stages.

  Pep Guardiola (7/10):

  Decision to push Stones centrally threatened to give Liverpool the space they needed to counter-attack, but figured out a way to stop the Reds' attackers before his own forwards stepped up in the second half.

Everything you need to know about French phenomenon N'Golo Kante!

N'Golo Kante is a French professional football player who currently plays as a defensive midfielder for Chelsea FC and the France national team. He was born on March 29, 1991, in Paris, France, and is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world, known for his tireless work ethic, tactical intelligence, and ball-winning abilities.

Kante began his football career at the age of eight, playing for the JS Suresnes youth team in the Paris suburbs. He later joined the youth academy of Boulogne, where he made his professional debut in 2012. In 2013, he signed with SM Caen, where he played for two seasons before being signed by Leicester City.

His impressive performances caught the attention of Leicester City, who signed him in 2015 for a fee of £5.6 million. Kante was an integral part of Leicester's historic Premier League-winning campaign in the 2015-16 season. His performances for Leicester also earned him a call-up to the France national team, and he made his debut in March 2016.

Following his success with Leicester, Kante joined Chelsea in 2016 for a fee of £32 million. He quickly established himself as a key player for the club, helping them win the Premier League in his first season. Later on he would help them win their second Uefa Champions League trophy in 2021.

For France, he was an integral part of the team that won the 2018 Fifa World Cup, playing a crucial role in the midfield. Kante has made 53 appearances for France, scoring two goals. He has also participated in major international tournaments like the Uefa European Championship and the Uefa Nations League.

Kante's story have made him an inspiration not only for any child aspiring to be a world-class athlete in France, but people across the world to believe they can achieve whatever they want to. His humility and silent nature also makes him the ideal professional whom everyone can follow.

Here are 13 fun facts about N'Golo Kante you need to know…!

• Roots that go back to Mali, Africa

  N'Golo Kante's parents migrated from Mali to France in search of better opportunities.

  Kante was born in Paris in 1991, where his father worked as a stonemason and his mother as a cleaner.

  Kante's parents instilled in him a strong work ethic and determination to succeed.

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• His name has royal origins

  N'Golo Kante's parents named him after the great Mali emperor Ngolo Diarra of the Bambara empire.

  Diarra was once a slave who, after receiving his freedom, overthrew the previous regime to establish himself as the ruler of Mali and begin a dynasty that ruled from 1766 to 1861.

  It's fair to say the French midfielder has lived up to his name with a similar pivot to the top, going from the streets of Paris, to becoming one of the greatest players in football!

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  Inspired by France's 1998 World Cup victory

  It was at the age of seven that Kante decided he wanted to become a professional footballer one day. Watching his nation win the 1998 World Cup was what triggered his desire to get into the sport. In particular, seeing the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry, players with immigrant roots such as his own, enjoy great success for France proved crucial for making up his mind.

  Thirty years later, the midfielder would himself be pivotal as France won the World Cup in 2018, thus bringing things a full circle.

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• Lack of success early on

  While the midfielder is now a household name in the world of football, early on in his career barely any club took notice of him.

  Due to his lack of height, many teams overlooked Kante, who was rejected by many academies including the likes of Rennes, Lorient, Sochaux, etc. Even the great Arsene Wenger decided against signing him when he was at JS Suresnes.

  Ironically, the Gunners would try to sign him after his success with Leicester City in 2016, but would miss out to rivals Chelsea.