Sadio Mane: Pep Guardiola accuses Liverpool players of diving ahead of Manchester City clash

Champions City travel to leaders Liverpool next weekend

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Liverpool's Sadio Mané (Getty Images)

Pep Guardiola accused Liverpool players of diving to win games after Jurgen Klopp’s title challengers came from behind to win at Aston Villa.

Sadio Mané scored a stoppage-time header to secure a 2-1 victory at Villa Park on Saturday, but only after being booked for simulation during the first half.

Guardiola’s Manchester City produced a late turnaround of their own, coming from behind to beat Southampton thanks to Kyle Walker’s 86th-minute strike.

The defending champions would have moved within four points of Liverpool if not for Mané’s winner, which maintained the leaders’ six point lead.

It was the third crucial late intervention by Mané in recent weeks, after the Senegal international won late penalties in wins over Leicester City and Tottenham.

When asked whether he was aware of Liverpool’s late victory, Guardiola told BBC Sport that he was not surprised by the result.

“We arrived in the locker room it was 1-1, then it was 1-2. It has happened many times, what Liverpool has done in the last years, it’s because it’s a special talent.

“Sometimes it’s diving, sometimes it is this talent to score incredible goals in the last minute. He’s a talent.”

Though Guardiola did not mention Mané by name, his remarks were widely interpreted as a reference to the 27-year-old’s recent match-winning contributions.

Mané was cautioned by referee Jonathan Moss on Saturday after going to ground in the penalty area following a challenge by Villa full-back Frederic Guilbert.

Guardiola’s comments are likely to be interpreted as an attempt at mind games ahead of the champions’ visit to Anfield next Sunday.