Pep Guardiola rain praises on Manchester city star for absolute performance, not halaand , foden or doku was even close he will star every match from now

The atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium was electric, and Manchester City fans could feel that something special was about to happen. From the first whistle, the noise was deafening, the blue flags were waving, and Pep Guardiola stood on the touchline with that intense look that only appears when his team is ready for a fight. Liverpool were in town, a team that had so often pushed City to the limit, a team that had hurt them before, but on this night in November 2025, something was different. It was not just about revenge or rivalry; it was about making a statement, about showing the world that Manchester City were still the kings of English football. And at the heart of that performance stood a young man from Belgium—Jeremy Doku—the new superstar who set the Etihad on fire.

The match began at a furious pace. Liverpool pressed high, as they always do, trying to unsettle City’s rhythm. But Pep’s men looked calm, organized, and focused. Rodri controlled the midfield like a general, Bernardo Silva buzzed between lines, and Phil Foden was sharp in attack. Yet it was Doku who caught the eye early on. Every time he got the ball, there was a sense of danger. The crowd would rise slightly, sensing that something was about to happen. His quick feet, his acceleration, his confidence—everything about him screamed magic. Liverpool’s young defender Conor Bradley, who had been praised for stopping Vinicius Junior earlier in the week, now found himself facing a nightmare in sky blue.

In the 17th minute, Doku made his first big move. He picked up the ball near the halfway line, sprinted down the left, twisted Bradley inside out, and drove into the box. Desperate to stop him, Bradley stuck out a leg, and Doku went down. The referee pointed straight to the spot. The Etihad erupted. Erling Haaland stepped up, the crowd chanting his name, but Liverpool’s goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili guessed right and made a superb save. For a moment, there was silence, but Doku clapped his hands, urging his teammates to keep pushing. You could see the belief in his eyes—he knew City would get another chance.

And that chance came in the 29th minute. Kevin De Bruyne whipped in a corner, and Haaland rose above everyone, powering a header into the back of the net. The stadium exploded. Haaland roared, fists clenched, and Guardiola celebrated on the sideline with a grin. The early miss didn’t matter anymore. Manchester City were ahead, and it felt like they had control.

Liverpool tried to respond. Virgil van Dijk thought he had scored when he bundled in a close-range effort after a free kick, but VAR intervened. The replay showed Andy Robertson’s foot slightly ahead of the last defender—offside. The goal was chalked off, and the Liverpool fans fell silent. Guardiola, usually calm, celebrated that VAR decision like a goal. He knew the danger Liverpool carried and how crucial that moment was.

Just before halftime, City doubled their lead. Nico González, one of the young players Guardiola has been nurturing, received the ball just outside the box. He took a touch, looked up, and unleashed a shot that took a deflection off Van Dijk, wrong-footing the keeper and flying into the net. 2–0 to City. The Etihad was rocking. The City fans began to sing louder, and Guardiola clenched his fists in satisfaction. Liverpool were stunned. Jurgen Klopp stood on the sidelines shaking his head. His team looked out of ideas, unable to deal with City’s pressing, movement, and intensity.

But the night truly belonged to Jeremy Doku. In the second half, he decided to turn the game into his own show. He attacked relentlessly, dribbling past players for fun, making Liverpool defenders backpedal in fear. Bradley, who had been full of confidence days earlier, was now struggling to breathe under the pressure. Doku didn’t just beat him with pace; he humiliated him with skill, using body feints, stepovers, and sudden bursts of acceleration that left the young defender chasing shadows.

Then came the moment everyone will remember. In the 63rd minute, Doku picked up the ball near the edge of the box. He cut inside, ghosting past one defender, shifting the ball onto his right foot, and curling a magnificent shot into the top corner. The ball flew like a rocket, kissing the net as the Etihad erupted in wild celebration. Doku ran towards the corner flag, arms wide open, pure joy on his face. Behind him, Pep Guardiola couldn’t contain his emotions—he raised both hands in the air and started conducting the Etihad crowd like a maestro leading an orchestra. It was a sight to behold. The fans responded, chanting Doku’s name, realizing they were witnessing the birth of a new Manchester City superstar.

From that moment, the match turned into a celebration. City were untouchable. Every pass, every movement was met with cheers. Doku continued to dazzle, combining with Foden and De Bruyne to torment Liverpool’s defense. Even when he didn’t have the ball, his presence created space for others. Haaland nearly grabbed a second goal when he rattled the post, and Foden forced a fine save from Mamardashvili. Liverpool tried to push forward, but City’s backline, led by Rúben Dias, stood strong. Ederson made a couple of sharp saves, ensuring the clean sheet was preserved.

As the final whistle blew, the Etihad stood as one, applauding the players, but especially Jeremy Doku. The young Belgian walked off to a standing ovation, his name echoing around the stadium. Guardiola embraced him warmly on the touchline, whispering something in his ear. Perhaps words of praise, perhaps words of caution. But the message was clear—Manchester City had found their next great star. The crowd knew it. The world knew it.

After the match, Guardiola’s press conference was full of admiration for his players. He praised Haaland’s mentality after missing the penalty, applauded Nico González’s confidence, and highlighted the defensive discipline of his team. But when asked about Doku, his eyes lit up. “Jeremy was unbelievable tonight,” he said. “His energy, his courage, his creativity—this is what makes the difference in big games. He gives us something special, something we need in matches like this. When he runs at defenders, you can feel the fear. He’s growing every day.”

For Doku, it was the performance of his young career. After the game, he smiled shyly when interviewed, downplaying his brilliance. “I just tried to help the team,” he said. “When you play with players like Kevin, Phil, Erling—it’s easy to enjoy football. I just wanted to attack, create chances, and enjoy the moment.” But behind that humility was confidence. He knew he had just made a statement. He had announced himself as a true Manchester City player—a player capable of taking on the biggest stage and shining brightly.

For Liverpool, it was a humbling evening. They had come into the game as defending champions, full of hope, but City simply outclassed them in every department. Klopp admitted after the match that his team couldn’t cope with Doku’s speed and City’s intensity. “We couldn’t stop him,” Klopp said. “He’s unpredictable, very fast, and very confident. We tried to adjust, but he was everywhere.” Those words summed it up. Liverpool had been beaten by brilliance.

The victory meant City moved to second in the Premier League, just four points behind leaders Arsenal. The title race was now truly alive. Guardiola’s men, after a shaky start to the season, were back in their groove. The passing was crisp, the pressing was relentless, and the confidence was returning. And with players like Doku emerging, the future looked even brighter. The fans left the stadium that night with smiles, singing songs of champions, believing once again that this could be their year.

But beyond the goals and celebrations, what made the night unforgettable was the connection between Doku and the Etihad crowd. Every touch he took was met with noise, every dribble drew gasps, and every run lifted the fans to their feet. By the time he scored, it felt like the entire stadium had fallen in love with him. And Guardiola knew it. His gesture to the crowd—raising his hands, encouraging the cheers—wasn’t just about celebrating a goal. It was about acknowledging that something special was happening. He could feel the bond forming between player and fans. The Etihad had a new hero, and his name was Jeremy Doku.

In the dressing room afterward, the mood was light. Laughter, music, and celebration filled the air. Haaland playfully told Doku he owed him an assist next time. De Bruyne, the proud fellow Belgian, hugged him tightly. Guardiola, however, simply smiled and said, “This is only the beginning.” Those words echoed what everyone was thinking. Doku’s story at Manchester City had only just begun.

Outside the stadium, fans chanted his name long into the night. Some compared him to Leroy Sané, others to Raheem Sterling in his prime, but many said he was something entirely new—a blend of power, pace, and artistry. For a player who had arrived with questions about consistency, this was his answer. This was the night Jeremy Doku became a Manchester City superstar.

As dawn broke over Manchester the next morning, headlines across England told the same story: “Doku Destroys Liverpool,” “City’s New Superstar Shines,” “Guardiola Conducts the Etihad Symphony.” It wasn’t just about a 3–0 win; it was about a statement to the world that Manchester City were back, that they had the firepower and belief to chase down Arsenal and reclaim their crown. And at the center of it all stood a 23-year-old winger who played with the heart of a lion and the flair of a magician.

The Etihad has seen many great performances over the years—David Silva’s grace, Sergio Agüero’s goals, De Bruyne’s vision—but this one will be remembered for its energy, its emotion, and its symbolism. Because when Jeremy Doku cut inside and curled that ball into the top corner, he didn’t just score a goal. He announced the arrival of a new era. An era where the torch of creativity and brilliance passes to him. And as Guardiola stood there, arms raised, facing the roaring crowd, one thing was clear—Manchester City’s future is safe in the hands of their new superstar.