Gabriel Jesus upset after Pep Guardiola refused to let him take decisive Man City penalty against Liverpool

Mahrez's miss denied City a late win.
AFP/Getty Images

Gabriel Jesus was left upset and bemused after Pep Guardiola blocked him from taking an 85th-minute penalty in Manchester City’s goalless draw with Liverpool.

The Brazilian international believed he would be on spot-kick duties after replacing Sergio Aguero in the second half at Anfield.

But when Leroy Sane was brought down by Virgil van Dijk late on, Guardiola insisted Riyad Mahrez be given the chance to secure City’s first Premier League win in front of the Kop in 15 years.

City’s manager later apologised after Mahrez blazed his effort over the bar – but Jesus was still questioning the decision as he exited the stadium last night.

In Pictures | Liverpool vs Manchester City | 07/10/2018

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“Obviously I’m not happy,” said the striker. “As with Riyad, I’ve been practicing. I would like to have taken it, I was confident, so I was not happy that they did not allow me.

“However, it was important that we didn’t lose.

“Pep spoke with me. This is part of football, sometimes these things happen. I will support Riyad if the manager chooses him again.”

In a game of precious few chances, the penalty was a golden opportunity for the Premier League champions to end their Anfield hoodoo – and Jesus to enter City folklore with a famous winner.

Guardiola said: “He wanted to take it. I apologise.

“During the training sessions I see him (Mahrez) take taking the penalties and it gives me a lot of confidence.”

Jesus thought he was be given the nod to take the spot kick.
AFP/Getty Images

It was a measure of how serious a threat Guardiola considers Jurgen Klopp’s side that he approached the top of the table clash with a caution rarely associated with his side.

After being blown away by Liverpool on his previous two visits to Merseyside last season, he was determined to contain Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.

Mahrez believed it was performance that demonstrated City’s versatility.

“We were very strong defensively,” said the Algerian. “It showed we can do both – have the ball and be very strong as well.

“It’s very important and it’s something that we can take for the future. It showed we are not just a team that wants to play, and leaves big spaces, but we are a team who want to be strong defensively, and that’s what we showed that.

“It’s a strong performance and we deserved to win.”

Guardiola added: “I am so comfortable with the performance. They didn’t have one shot on target.

“Doing that in Anfield, that is so complicated. That is why I give so much credit for what we have done.”

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