- Manchester City has dropped a Liverpool reminder as John Stones confirms exit
- The former Everton defender will leave the Etihad Stadium this summer
- He was the cause of a major heartbreak for the Anfield faithful
As the era of the great rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester City begins to see its main protagonists depart, another pillar of Pep Guardiola’s side has called time on his career in Manchester. John Stones has officially confirmed he will leave the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season, drawing a curtain on a decade-long stint.
The former Everton defender, who joined Manchester City in 2016, posted an emotional farewell video on Instagram on Tuesday (28 April) to mark the occasion, in association with the club. He was clearly sentimental, as he broke down in tears as he confirmed his departure.
While the montage was designed to pull at the heartstrings of the Manchester City faithful, Liverpool fans of a certain vintage of a certain vintage might find one particular inclusion a little harder to watch.
Tucked among the trophies and the celebrations was a clip that still haunts many on Merseyside: that goalline clearance from the 2018-19 season.
The 11.7mm nightmare that still haunts Liverpool
For those who have managed to block it out, the moment occurred during City’s 2-1 win over the Reds at the Etihad in January 2019. In a game of astronomical stakes, a frantic scramble saw the ball looping towards the hosts’ goal.
Stones, displaying the composure and reflexes that defined his peak years, hooked the ball away just as it appeared to have crossed the line.
Goal-line technology later confirmed that the ball was a mere 11.7mm away from being a goal. Had it gone in, Liverpool likely would have walked away with a draw, and the Premier League trophy would have had red ribbons on it come the end of the season that May.
Instead, Guardiola’s side won the game and eventually the title by a single point. There was only an 11.7mm difference between Jurgen Klopp and Co. ending the season with 98 points and the actual title-winners on 96.
It was a moment of pure defensive instinct, and its inclusion in his farewell highlights serves as a stark reminder of just how thin the margins were during the Klopp-Guardiola peak.
ReadLiverpool verdict
Stones’ departure follows a trend of ‘Old Guard’ exits this summer. While Liverpool prepare for life after Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and possibly Alisson, City are bracing for the loss of both Stones and Bernardo Silva.
While the centre-back will always be associated with our rivals across the M62, it is impossible to ignore the role he played in the most competitive era of English football history. That clearance in 2019 remains one of the biggest “what if” moments of the decade for the Reds.
As he moves on, likely with no shortage of suitors in the Premier League or abroad, he leaves as a reminder of the incredible standard the Anfield outfit had to meet just to keep pace.
We won’t miss seeing that clearance, but the league is possibly losing one of its most cultured defenders.
