Man City give Liverpool a guard of honour as the new Premier League champions return to action

Liverpool stars were welcomed onto the Etihad Stadium pitch with a guard of honour from Manchester City as the newly-crowned Premier League champions played their first game since winning the title.

Jurgen Klopp‘s men have dominated the title race from the off, and were duly crowned champions last week after City’s defeat at Chelsea saw the Anfield club end their 30-year wait for a league title.

And City stars lined the Etihad turf to applaud their rivals as their two-year reign at the summit of English football came to an end. 

Newly-crowned Premier League champions were given a guard of honour by Manchester City

Jordan Henderson lead his charges onto the pitch with Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah in tow. The atmosphere was rather subdued with City eager for the moment to pass as quickly as possible.  

Former Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling watched on as his old club received the applause from Pep Guardiola’s men before kick off at an empty Etihad Stadium. 

The Reds have barely put a foot wrong this campaign, and their 23-point advantage over City, their nearest rivals in second place, shows that Guardiola has plenty of work to do to challenge his German rival next season. 

‘As a player I’d never want to give a guard of honour but Liverpool thoroughly deserve it,’ former City defender Micah Richards said. ‘To be 20 points clear in the league. You’ve got to pay respect for a very good team.’

Sky Sports pundit and Manchester United icon Roy Keane added: ‘It will hurt them no doubt but to get respect you’ve got to show respect. They’ve won the league credit to them, but no doubt Pep will be determined to get it back next year. Wait until the referee blows the whistle for kick off, that respect will be out the window.’ 

More to follow.