One of the central matches of the 25th round of the EPL took place at Anfield. Manchester City defeated Liverpool 2-1 away, demonstrating true character in front of the fans. Such matches usually have a big impact on both the championship race and the team's spirit - and City proved themselves once again on such an evening.
Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov also played in the main squad of the match. This was his first game at Anfield - and getting on the field for the first time in such an atmosphere isn't easy for everyone. Especially considering the very dangerous players on the opposing side, such as Salah and Ekitike, it's not hard to imagine the pressure on Husanov.
Despite this, our compatriot started the game confidently and played for 61 minutes. However, in the second half, he was substituted as a precautionary measure following a clash with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. In such situations, health comes first - especially if there are doubts related to the head area, there's absolutely no need to take risks.
After the game, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke very warmly about Khusanov. He highlighted our compatriot's first game and the adaptation process, praising his performances on the field:
"Abdukodir Khusanov... It was his first game at Anfield. He came from Uzbekistan, spent six months in France, and played here for the first time. He was faced with players like Ekitike and Salah. What a game he played! He played brilliantly," Guardiola said.
These words aren't just simple praise - a coach like Guardiola doesn't praise everyone easily. This means Khusanov's performance was well-received not only by the fans but also by the team's staff. Most importantly, he showed that he can play fearlessly on the big stage - this is the biggest plus for a defender.
For information, Manchester City will play their next match against Fulham. Now, the main question is one: Will Khusanov fully recover and continue to compete for the starting lineup in the next match? If he is healthy, it is clear that this performance at Anfield gave him great confidence and a psychological impulse of "I am ready for this level."
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