Anfield is waiting again, and Manchester City fans are screaming one name louder than any other—Rayan Cherki. In a week where football talk is dominated by Liverpool versus Manchester City, one young Frenchman has stolen the headlines. He’s not the captain, not the superstar striker, not even a guaranteed starter. But right now, every City fan believes he is the missing piece Pep Guardiola must unleash if City are to conquer Anfield.
It started on a cold Wednesday night when City faced Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad. The game was supposed to be about Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and the usual names. But football, as it always does, had other plans. In the 90th minute, with the crowd still buzzing from Haaland’s earlier strike, Rayan Cherki picked up the ball just inside the box. A quick shuffle of his feet, one flick of his left boot, and the net rippled. The stadium erupted. It wasn’t just a goal—it was a statement. In that moment, the 22-year-old Frenchman told the world that his time had come.
Pep Guardiola clapped on the sideline, smiling like a man who knew he had found something rare. But it wasn’t just Pep who felt it. Every City fan watching that night saw it too—the flair, the confidence, the magic that City sometimes misses when things get tight. In just 15 minutes, Cherki reminded everyone why football is called the beautiful game.
By the time the whistle blew, social media had exploded. “Start him against Liverpool,” one fan tweeted. “Cherki you’re special,” another wrote. The internet had made its decision—Cherki must start at Anfield. And deep down, even the most cautious fans agreed.
The numbers spoke for themselves. In only 280 minutes this season, Cherki already has six goal contributions for Manchester City. Six. He doesn’t just play; he transforms moments into memories. Against Dortmund, he had ten touches, completed every dribble, recovered the ball twice, won both ground duels, and even earned a foul. In fifteen minutes, he did everything you could ask for. And he did it with a smile that made it all look easy.
That’s why fans are calling him “the bargain of the summer.” Signed for just £37 million, Cherki has already made his price tag look laughable. One fan wrote, “Ain’t no way we got Rayan Cherki for 37 million. This is the bargain of the century.” That post alone captured what everyone is thinking: City didn’t just buy a player; they bought a show.
But now comes the test. Liverpool. Anfield. Ninety minutes of noise, chaos, and pressure. This is where legends are made and reputations are broken. The fans believe Cherki is ready. The question is—does Pep believe it too?
Guardiola is known for trusting experience in big games. He prefers control, discipline, and structure. But sometimes football needs chaos, creativity, and surprise. And that’s where Cherki lives. He’s unpredictable, brave, and confident enough to try what others won’t. He reminds people of a young Riyad Mahrez—silky touches, daring dribbles, the ability to turn defenders into statues.
At just 22, Cherki already plays with the arrogance of someone who knows he belongs on the biggest stage. He isn’t intimidated by names like Salah or Van Dijk. To him, it’s just another game, another chance to prove why City trusted him. The fans have seen this kind of energy before—the hunger of a player who wants to take the game by storm.
Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki together are what City fans now dream about. Foden, the boy from Stockport who carries the rhythm of Manchester football, and Cherki, the flair-filled Frenchman with the artist’s touch. Together, they can destroy defenses. “Foden and Cherki are gonna destroy those guys,” one fan tweeted, echoing the feeling across the fanbase.
City’s trip to Anfield comes at a time when the league table couldn’t be tighter. Only one point separates Liverpool and City after ten games. Both sides are winning again, both sides have momentum, and both sides have something to prove. Liverpool are fresh from a massive win over Real Madrid, finally finding rhythm under Arne Slot. City, on the other hand, have won ten of their last thirteen games in all competitions. Haaland is scoring, De Bruyne is creating, and the machine is rolling again. But it’s Cherki who brings the spark that could make all the difference.
When you watch him, you see confidence mixed with creativity. He doesn’t just play passes—he paints them. He dribbles not to escape defenders but to embarrass them. And every touch tells you he’s special. That’s why City fans are obsessed with him already.
Guardiola, though, faces a difficult decision. Does he start Cherki at Anfield, in the most intimidating stadium in England, against a Liverpool team that smells blood? Or does he hold him back as a weapon from the bench? That’s the kind of question that defines managers. The safe choice would be to start Bernardo Silva or Jack Grealish—experienced players who know how to handle pressure. But football isn’t about being safe. It’s about taking moments and turning them into history.
Cherki has shown he’s not afraid of big nights. Even in limited minutes, he plays with confidence, demanding the ball, trying the unexpected. He’s the type of player who can change a game with a single move. Against Liverpool, one spark of magic might be all City need.
It’s not just about the fans’ excitement—it’s about momentum. Every great team has moments where a young star steps forward and becomes the new story. City have had them before: Foden rising under Pep’s trust, Haaland taking the league by storm, and now, maybe, Cherki.
Even rival fans are starting to notice. Social media across Europe is talking about him. French fans are proud. English pundits are impressed. Everyone is starting to see what Guardiola saw when he signed him. They call him “a maestro wizard,” “a world-class demon,” “a Yamal-esque player.” Big words for a young man still fighting for a starting spot, but that’s the world he’s stepping into now.
And if Pep listens to the fans—if he gives Cherki that chance—then Sunday could be the day he becomes a household name. Imagine the moment: the whistle blows, the crowd roars, Liverpool press forward, and Cherki picks up the ball on the halfway line. One turn, one dribble, one curling shot into the top corner—and the blue end of Anfield explodes. That’s the dream City fans are holding onto.
Pep Guardiola has been here before. He’s made bold decisions, trusted youth, and been rewarded. When he played Foden in big games early on, people said he was crazy. When he converted Stones into a midfielder, people said it wouldn’t work. But Pep thrives on ideas that others fear. Cherki might just be his next masterpiece.
Anfield will not be easy. Liverpool are confident, angry, and full of energy under Arne Slot. Their pressing will be relentless, their crowd unforgiving. But City know that the best way to silence Anfield is to play their football—to control, to create, to kill the game with class. And for that, they might need Cherki’s magic.
It’s rare to see a player win fans’ hearts this fast at Manchester City. Usually, it takes time. But Cherki’s performances have cut through everything. He brings joy, and joy is something football has been missing in the robotic precision of modern systems. When he steps on the pitch, football becomes alive again.
Now it’s up to Guardiola. The world is watching, the fans are shouting, and even neutrals are curious. Will Pep take the risk? Will he start the young French magician in one of the biggest games of the season? Or will he keep him hidden, waiting for another day?
One thing is certain: Rayan Cherki has already won the people’s vote. To the fans, he’s not just another signing—he’s the “bargain of the summer,” the kind of player who reminds you why you fell in love with football. And if he walks onto that pitch at Anfield and dances past a red shirt, it won’t just be another dribble. It will be the moment Manchester City fans say, “We told you so.”
For now, everyone waits. The tension builds. The rivalry burns. Liverpool versus Manchester City is always about pride and perfection, but this time, it’s also about faith. Faith in youth. Faith in talent. Faith in a boy named Rayan Cherki, who is ready to step into the light and show England what he can do.
Because sometimes, all it takes is fifteen minutes to convince the world. And Rayan Cherki did exactly that. Now, the only thing left is for Pep Guardiola to listen.
