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Man City manager Pep Guardiola took shots at both Liverpool and Man Utd when claiming one of his players would’ve been sent off in James Milner’s position.

Man City twice pulled themselves on to level terms in a pulsating 2-2 draw at Anfield. Phil Foden rifled a low strike beyond Alisson to make it 1-1 after Sadio Mane had opened the scoring.

A moment of Mohamed Salah magic put the Reds back in front, though Guardiola was left visibly frustrated at the non-awarding of a second yellow card to James Milner moments earlier.

Milner had dangled out a lazy leg and felled Foden while in full flow. A foul was given, though the referee did not deem it worthy of a second yellow – much to Guardiola’s frustration.

But showing the champion spirit they possess, City did not fade and bagged an equaliser through a deflected Kevin De Bruyne strike.

MATCH REPORT: Guardiola rages despite cruel deflection cancelling out Salah magic in pulsating Liverpool, Man City draw

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Guardiola said: “What a game. That is the reason the last years Man City and Liverpool were always there because we try to play in this way. Unfortunately we couldn’t win – but we didn’t lose.

“That’s why the Premier League is the best [that it could go either way]. It was great, really great.”

Regarding another superb display from Foden, the Spaniard said: “Phil is a special player, we know it. He came back from the national team injured, he is a fantastic player – but not just him, everyone was fantastic.”

On whether James Milner should have been showed a second yellow card, Guardiola was in no doubt. And in his response, he claimed a Man City player would’ve been shown the red card if the roles were reversed when namechecking both Anfield and Old Trafford.

“It’s a yellow card,” fumed Guardiola. “It’s a yellow card. It’s clear. It’s Anfield, it’s Old Trafford. In our situation a City player is sent off. It’s too much clear. It was a second yellow.”

On being made to settle for a draw, Guardiola concluded: “It is what it is. The result is the result and we cannot change it.

“I know how difficult it is against these players and this manager. Every time it is incredible challenge for us. The way we played at Stamford Bridge, in Paris and today shows we are a great team.

“When we lose the way we play in Paris [against Paris St-Germain] and draw today it is good. I pray we continue and player come back from their national teams safe.”

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Anfield one of the most “difficult grounds” – Foden

Man City goalscorer Foden also spoke to the press, telling Sky Sports: “It’s very difficult to come here with the fans. It’s one of the most difficult grounds to come to and we dealt with it really well today.

“It had it all. It was end-to-end at times. I twa such a brilliant game and we stuck in there to the end. We’re happy to get the draw and on another day we could have took the three points. It was disappointing not to go in at half time ahead but we kept the momentum when we came out in the second half and we dug in there.

On Milner’s foul that went unpunished, Foden said: “I’m an honest guy. I don’t like to go down when I get fouled. I like to stay on my feet and be honest. It happens and it’s football and we dealt with it well.”

City twice came back from behind, prompting Foden to say: “It shows our character. We’ve not won here a lot but we carried on playing football when we went behind and didn’t look bothered and played really well today.”

Finishing with coments on his goal, Foden concluded: “There wasn’t a lot of room to put it across goal so I put my laces through it and hoped for the best and was happy to see it go in the back of the net.”

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