- Marc Guehi registers fifth win over Liverpool this season
- Almost joined the Reds on deadline day
- Crystal Palace pulled plug on deal in the final hours
Liverpool’s difficult week has gone from bad to worse as Marc Guehi rubbed salt into the wounds of a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City in the Emirates FA Cup quarter finals.
Marc Guehi was supposed to join Liverpool in the summer window after the Reds agreed a deal to sign him from Crystal Palace. The FA Cup winners allowed the Englishman to complete his medical at the club, but pulled the plug on the deal after failing to secure a replacement.
The defender was back on the market in the January window, but the Anfield side did not make a move to sign him. Manchester City swooped in and secured the signing, which the Reds might regret letting happen right now.
Since the deal fell through in early September, Guehi has defeated Liverpool five times – thrice with Crystal Palace and twice with Manchester City.
Marc Guehi not taking credit for five wins over Liverpool
Guehi started off the season by beating Liverpool 5-4 in the Community Shield penalty shootout after the game ended 2-2. He was then involved in the 2-1 Premier League win over the Reds while at Palace, and the Carabao Cup fourth-round tie ended in a 3-0 win for the Eagles, with the defender playing 90 minutes in all three games.
Since moving for Manchester City for £20 million in the winter window, the defender has managed to defeat Arne Slot’s side twice. The first win came in the Premier League, a 2-1 win at Anfield, and now a 4-0 win at the Etihad in the FA Cup, once again playing the whole match in both meetings.
Speaking to the media after the game, Guehi refused to take credit for it and said:
“It’s not me! It’s just a coincidence to be honest. You have to enjoy it, it’s not a long career so that’s what I’m trying to do. At Man City it is relentless, having to learn a lot and make mistakes. I have been given the opportunity to do that with an amazing team, amazing manager and the fans have been great as well.”
Before the five meetings this season, Guehi had four losses and two draws in his six meetings against the Reds with Crystal Palace.
Arne Slot confirmed Liverpool tried to sign Marc Guehi
Arne Slot spoke to the media in September, confirming that Liverpool wanted to sign Marc Guehi in the summer. He said that they were pleased to sign Alexander Isak on deadline day, but missing out on the defender was a major blow. The head coach said:
“A lot happened on the final day. I am most pleased that we got the deal for Alexander Isak over the line. Everyone at the club worked so hard to get it done. It would be a bit ridiculous to deny that we were close to signing Guehi. That is so out in the open. But these things happen. It probably happened to our players where they were close to signing for other clubs and then things change in the last moment.”
“We would have liked to sign him, of course. If we feel we can strengthen the team, we never hesitate to do so, and that is what we tried to do. It is a pity for us and the player but he is in a good place at Palace, where he won the FA Cup and Community Shield. Let’s see what the future brings for him and us.”
The Reds wanted him as the ideal long-term replacement for Ibrahima Konate, who is yet to sign a new deal at Anfield. The Frenchman is in the final months of his contract and has not signed a new deal yet.
