Man City give Liverpool a guard of honour at the Etihad after losing Premier League title to bitter rivals

THE Premier League’s changing of the guard was confirmed… as Manchester City gave champions Liverpool a guard of honour.

City’s defeat to Chelsea last week put an end to 30 years of Reds pain as they sealed their first Premier League title.

In a bizarre twist of fate, Liverpool’s first game since that memorable night just so happened to be against City.

And so it meant after sitting on the English throne for two years, Manchester City handed over the baton to rivals Liverpool – and did so in classy fashion at the Etihad.

Going against the new normal of the away side taking to the pitch first followed by the home side, Pep Guardiola and his men came out first.

The team lined up – socially distanced – to form a guard of honour for the new kings to walk through.

Skipper Jordan Henderson led his troops out as the City stars applauded the team who are still on course to break plenty of records in this remarkable season, including City’s record points tally of 100 achieved in 2017/18.

Guardiola was among those to join in the respectful, albeit far-from-enthusiastic, clap as the Reds strutted through with their heads held high – but there was barely any eye contact whatsoever.

Clubs do not have to give a guard of honour, but choose to do so to show respect for the new champions – who won’t lift the trophy until their final home game against Chelsea.

It is not compulsory, but is instead an agreement between the clubs and is therefore not a rule in the Premier League regulations.

CITY CLASS

But City – who did not get the privilege last term after winning the title on the final day of the season – were happy to oblige with the tradition of welcoming the title winners out for their next match.

Guardiola promised they would do as much last week.

He said: “Of course we are going to do it. We are going to do the guard of honour of course.

“Always we receive Liverpool when they come to our house in an incredible way. They cannot complain and of course we are going to do it because they deserve it.”

Jurgen Klopp appreciated the comments and said his side would gladly accept the sporting gesture.

The Kop boss, who won back-to-back Bundesliga titles with Borussia Dortmund in 2011 and 2012, said: “I am not sure if I’ve ever had one, long ago in Germany.

“An English tradition and it is a nice gesture. I wouldn’t need it as we want to play football and don’t celebrate but again it’s nice. That is it.

“He’s an exceptional guy. I really like the family and I respect him a lot. We usually don’t have contact over the season.

“He’s a competitor and wants to win and accepts when he has lost. I had to learn (about losing) that more often than him. It will not change him or me.”