Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has thanked Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain for signing Julian Alvarez.

Alvarez led the line in Erling Haaland’s absence and scored in Manchester City’s 4-1 victory over Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Guardiola said: “Tactics is players. Erling is something special. Julian is something special too,” Guardiola declared.

“The vision in that second goal to know Riyad is there.

“He was involved in the first three goals. He was so clever. He played with the World Cup champions. If you are not good, you cannot play in the world champion team.

“Thank you so much to the club and Txiki (director of football Begiristain). He is a young player. Of course, he played a really good game.”