Guardiola accuses Reds star of diving

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has stoked the fires ahead of next week’s clash with Liverpool after accusing Sadio Mane of diving. The Premier League holders take on the leaders in a huge clash next weekend, and a win for the Reds would put them nine points clear at the top. The City boss has chosen to add a bit more fuel to the fire with a surprise unprovoked pop at Liverpool’s forward.
Guardiola was speaking after a dramatic day for the leading duo, who both scored late goals as they came from behind to win – City beating Southampton 2-1 at home and Liverpool winning 2-1 away to Aston Villa.
Mane scored Liverpool’s winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time at Villa Park, but had been given a yellow card for simulation in the first half of the game.
Guardiola is in no doubt that Mane is a top-class player, but he was also happy to point out the other side of his game, when quizzed about his diving. “It has happened many times, what Liverpool have done, in the last few years, it’s because (Mane) is a special talent,” Guardiola told BBC Sport. “Sometimes he’s diving, sometimes he has this talent to score incredible goals in the last minute. He’s a talent.”
Liverpool had trailed to Trezeguet’s 21st-minute goal but finally drew level when Andy Robertson scored in the 87th minute before Mane’s winner. “If it’s one time, two times, ‘we were lucky, we were lucky’, but it happened in the last two seasons many, many times – they have a special character to do that,” Guardiola said of Liverpool’s late goals. “We look at ourselves, we know which team we face, I think they have won 10 and drawn one. Next week we go to Anfield to try to play them.”
City, who have not won in the league at Anfield since 2003, will start Sunday’s match six points behind Jurgen Klopp’s side.