Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand has claimed that Manchester City's victory over Liverpool will serve as a warning to Premier League title rival Arsenal.
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has claimed that Manchester City's win over Liverpool will serve as a warning to Arsenal.
"That is exactly what Pep Guardiola would've wanted from his team", the former England international told BT Sport. "A sublime, dominant performance.
"That was a statement, and that was a signal to Arsenal: 'c'mon, what are you going to do now? And that's how it's going to be until the end of the season.
"It's going to be, 'We'll do our stuff,' and they'll play at different times. This was a difficult fixture for Manchester City, given the history between the two clubs in recent years, and we know that Liverpool can pull a performance out of the bag that we haven't seen too often.
"This was the result that this City team, the fan base, and the management would've wanted. They've produced; they were fantastic to a man, every player on that pitch."
Chelsea players 'have been left STUNNED by Graham Potter's sacking'
Chelsea players have reportedly been left shocked by the club's decision to part ways with manager Graham Potter.
The club announced on Sunday evening that it had terminated Potter's contract following their latest defeat under the former Brighton boss, their 11th in total under him.
With the statement being posted on social media, it came as something of a shock to a lot of observers, most of whom had expected the club to stick with Potter until at least the end of the season.
According to The Telegraph, the players were caught as unawares as everyone else, with it claimed they found out via the statement before calling their respective agents in a state of shock. However, it was claimed that by 3pm wheels were in motion to remove him.
Boos greeted the Chelsea players and technical staff as they headed down the tunnel on a balmy early spring evening in west London on Saturday, with most seemingly directed at Potter.
It has been reported that sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley were the driving forces behind the decision to part ways with Potter, with co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital supportive of the decision.
Chelsea reportedly will not have to pay out the entirety of the £50m left on Potter's five-year contract.
It means Potter became the second manager to be sacked by the club this season, with Thomas Tuchel sacked in the early autumn after a poor start to the season.
Chelsea have spent more than £600m revamping their squad under the new owners, with the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk, Enzo Fernandez, Raheem Sterling and Wesley Fofana all signed for big money on long-term deals.
It had been believed that owing to this they were willing to give Potter time and space to develop and hone his squad with a view to an assault on the upper echelons of the league next season.
However, that was not to be and what had always felt like something of an awkward marriage came to a crashing end on Sunday.
It has been reported that no immediate successor has been lined up, though names such as Julian Nagelsmann, who recently suffered the same fate as Potter at Bayern Munich, and Mauricio Pochettino are on the market.
It is said that the two sporting directors will now lead a thorough process to identify the club's new manager.
The club announced in a statement that Potter's assistant, Bruno Saltor, who he brought with him from Brighton initially, will remain as interim first team coach until the end of the season.
A Chelsea statement said: 'Chelsea FC has announced that Graham Potter has departed the club. Graham has agreed to collaborate with the Club to facilitate a smooth transition.
'In his time with the club, Graham has taken us to the quarter final of the Champions League, where we will face Real Madrid. Chelsea would like to thank Graham for all his efforts and contribution and wish him well for the future. Bruno Saltor will take charge of the team as Interim Head Coach.'
Co-controlling owners Boehly and Eghbali added: 'On behalf of everyone at the club, we want to thank Graham sincerely for his contribution to Chelsea.
'We have the highest degree of respect for Graham as a coach and as a person. He has always conducted himself with professionalism and integrity and we are all disappointed in this outcome.
'Along with our incredible fans, we will all be getting behind Bruno and the team as we focus on the rest of the season.
'We have 10 Premier League games remaining and a Champions League quarter final ahead. We will put every effort and commitment into every one of those games so that we can end the season on a high.'