Pep Guardiola told his reaction to Liverpool FC crowd might have contributed to Man City loss

Rio Ferdinand believes Pep Guardiola’s gestures to the crowd after Phil Foden’s goal was ruled out contributed to Manchester City’s loss to Liverpool on Sunday.

Foden’s second-half strike was chalked off by VAR after Erling Haaland was adjudged to have pulled back Fabinho in the build-up. This prompted the Anfield crowd to react joyously which was only incited further when Guardiola sarcastically encouraged the fans behind the dugout to cheer louder.

The champions ultimately lost 1-0 thanks to a Mo Salah breakaway goal on 76 minutes. Speaking about his gestures after the game, Guardiola said: “They shouted, we shout more.

“Otherwise, here in this stadium, you go. The game was calm and then after the goal was disallowed and after they scored a goal, it was the real Anfield.”

Guardiola later claimed Liverpool fans threw coins at him amid the cancellation of the goal. On the subject of the gestures, Ferdinand said Guardiola’s mocked celebrations ramped up the intensity around the stadium.

He described how he “liked the sub-plot” but agreed that it contributed to the atmosphere. “When he did that - the players feel that, man,” he told YouTube show FIVE.

“You feel on the pitch when the stadium [goes] - it’s like 'woah what’s going on'. The difference in the volume. There’s a spark.

“Sometimes, it’s a tackle or a situation in the game and yesterday it was the manager on the side of the pitch and I’m sure that may have contributed towards where it went.”