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Pellegrini slams Manchester City side after sobering Liverpool loss

Jason Cairnduff / Reuters

Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini is known for his mild-mannered persona, and rarely voices his disdain at the performances of his Manchester City players.

Following the 4-1 trouncing dished out by Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, that changed.

With his side looking sluggish and powerless to prevent the Reds' relentless attacks, Pellegrini was forced into two changes at the break, with Jesus Navas and Yaya Toure (who was skippering the team) withdrawn for Fernandinho and Fabian Delph.

As far as the former Malaga boss was concerned, any one of his ranks could have been hauled off during the interval.

Related: 3 takeaways from Liverpool's comprehensive 4-1 win at Manchester City

"I was not happy with the performance of 11 players, not just (holding midfielders) Yaya and Fernando," he told reporters postmatch.

In the second half little improved. Liverpool added another goal to its tally and eventually ran out 4-1 winners. It was a scoreline which, despite its one-sided outcome, undervalued the professionalism and ruthlessness of the visitor.

"We conceded four goals, we could have conceded three or four more. It's difficult to understand. A complete disaster," Pellegrini said.

Pellegrini now has until Wednesday's tough trip to Juventus in the Champions League to get to the bottom of this languid performance. His side has already secured progression into the Round of 16, but a first-place finish would mean a supposedly easier tie in the next stage.

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