Pep Guardiola avoids FA sanctions for touchline celebration in Liverpool win

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has escaped charges following his celebrations for his side’s 4-1 win over Liverpool on Saturday.

Goals from Julian Alvarez, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Jack Grealish steered the Premier League champions past Jurgen Klopp’s men after Mohamed Salah gave the Reds an early lead at the Etihad Stadium.

City remain eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal but have a game in hand over the Gunners, who claimed a 4-1 triumph against Leeds United themselves this weekend.

In their first game back from the recent international break, the Blues, missing Erling Haaland, made a sluggish start against Liverpool, with Salah pouncing on some questionable defensive play from Guardiola’s men after 17 minutes.

However, City responded in brilliant fashion and levelled proceedings through Julian Alvarez, who rounded off a silky team move by tapping home from Jack Grealish’s cross past Alisson Becker.

Despite the goal and its significance in City’s route to victory, what caught the eye of many was Pep Guardiola’s seemingly provocative celebration on the touchline to Alvarez’s leveller on the cusp of 30 minutes.

The Spaniard appeared to taunt Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas in his technical area as he celebrated the equaliser before attempting to shake the hand of Reds star Arthur Melo, who also began the clash on the bench.

Guardiola has since come under criticism for his touchline antics on social media and was even questioned about his eye-catching celebrations to City’s leveller in his post-match press conference.

Asked if his gesture towards Tsimikas was provocative in nature, the Manchester City manager said: “I’m so sorry. Ask him (Kostas Tsimikas) if I lack respect. I celebrated the goal – you (addressing a reporter) think it was a lack of respect? Ah, sorry.”

However, despite the outpouring reaction to his celebration since the weekend, Guardiola will face no action over the incident from the FA, according to ESPN.

The win over Liverpool, City’s fourth in a row in the Premier League, could set the tone for a defining month for the Premier League champions, who face Southampton at St. Mary’s this weekend before the opening leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich next week.

Guardiola will be hoping to recall Erling Haaland against the German giants but Julian Alvarez’s stellar displays in the Norwegian’s absence will leave the City boss little to worry about as City tread through the business end of the campaign.