Pep Guardiola admits his joke about Ederson taking Man City’s penalties could come true

Pep Guardiola admits his joke about Ederson taking Manchester City’s penalties is now just a ‘half-joke’ after Ilkay Gundogan’s miss at Liverpool as boss reveals he’ll ‘consider’ promoting goalkeeper to spot-kick taker

  • Manchester City missed their third penalty of the season in their win at Liverpool
  • Ilkay Gundogan blazed over from 12 yards in front of an empty Kop on Sunday 
  • Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne have missed from the spot this season
  • Pep Guardiola says goalkeeper Ederson could be promoted to first-choice taker

Pep Guardiola admits he could promote goalkeeper Ederson as Manchester City‘s first-choice penalty taker after yet another missed spot-kick against Liverpool.

Ilkay Gundogan became the third City player to miss from 12 yards this season – after Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling – in the first half of their 4-1 triumph over the Premier League champions on Sunday.  

It is also the eighth penalty Guardiola’s side have missed since the start of last season, with the City boss now strongly considering their Brazilian goalkeeper to take up the duties after the Spaniard revealed last season that his shot stopper is brilliant at spot-kicks.

The goalkeeper is known for his excellent technical ability and could fix City's recent spot kick woes

Pep Guardiola (left) claims goalkeeper Ederson (right) could be Man City’s next penalty taker

Ilkay Gundogan missed City's third spot kick of the season in the club's victory at Liverpool

Ilkay Gundogan missed City’s third spot kick of the season in the club’s victory at Liverpool

Guardiola told his post-match press conference: ‘When I commented on this six months ago, it was a joke. Now it’s a half-joke.

‘I will consider (whether) this will not be a joke and he will be a taker. We don’t have a real specialist in this area.’

The only City player to have a 100 per cent penalty success rate this season is Sergio Aguero, who is currently sidelined  

City also missed five spot-kicks last season when they ended the campaign as Premier League runners-up to Liverpool.

Raheem Sterling (R) missed a spot kick earlier in the season - City's eighth miss since 2019-20

Raheem Sterling (R) missed a spot kick earlier in the season – City’s eighth miss since 2019-20

After Gabriel Jesus missed against Sheffield United in January of last year, Guardiola admitted that Ederson is the best penalty taker in training and made his initial joke about handing him the responsibilities. 

‘Ederson is the best,’ Guardiola explained following last season’s win at Bramall Lane. ‘Believe me, he’s the best taker we have in penalties.

‘Eddy has no blood in his veins, he’s so calm so he could do it.’ 

The Brazilian goalkeeper is known for his excellent technical ability and became the first goalkeeper in Premier League history to register an assist in Manchester City’s 6-1 win over Huddersfield in August 2018. 

City boss Guardiola claimed Ederson (above) is City's best penalty taker in training last season

City boss Guardiola claimed Ederson (above) is City’s best penalty taker in training last season 

The 27-year-old has missed just one Premier League game for Guardiola’s side this season as City currently lead the top-flight table by five points after Sunday’s win at Liverpool.

Gundogan scored either side of Mohamed Salah’s spot kick for Liverpool while Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden added gloss on the scoreline to seal the three points for City. 

Two of Manchester City’s goals were largely down to errors from Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who gave away possession which directly led to the ball ending in the net on both occasions.