53-years-old Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola confronts Kevin De Bruyne following the City star’s substitution against Liverpool.

Pep Guardiola and Kevin De Bruyne appeared to exchange tense words after the midfielder withdrew during the 1-1 draw at Liverpool in response to his withdrawal.

At Anfield, the Manchester City hero was substituted with the game tied at one goal each. John Stones’s first-half goal gave City the lead, but Alexis Mac Allister’s penalty kick conversion rained dismal on the visitors’ title hopes.

In addition, De Bruyne, 32 years old, confided in his supervisor regarding an incident that seemed to elevate his heart rate. Guardiola approached him on the City bench while the Belgian straint his face and pointed incredulously to the field. Guardiola was seated next to the Belgian on the bench.

While there is insufficient evidence to suggest that the matter implied a dispute between the two, De Bruyne did glance at his coach with a perplexed expression at one point. It is not surprising that the veteran might have believed he could have significantly contributed to City’s success had he remained.

In fact, it was De Bruyne’s corner kick that failed to miss the target and set up Stones for a close-range finish 23 minutes into the game. Furthermore, he persisted in pulling threads from the engine room when City appeared to be at their most vulnerable.