We live for games like these, says Dias | OneFootball

Ruben Dias says the City squad relish and thrive off big games following our impressive 3-0 Premier League victory over champions Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.

After several years of battling for Premier League titles, City and Liverpool locked horns in Manchester knowing a victory would put them hot on the heels of league-leaders Arsenal going into the final international break of 2025.

After seeing a 13th minute penalty saved, Erling Haaland found the net shortly before the half-hour mark with a looping header, his 99th goal in the top-flight, before Nico's deflected strike had us two ahead at the interval.

The electric Jeremy Doku curled in a spectacular third after the hour mark to secure three vital points in Pep Guardiola's 1000th match as a manager, propelling us up to second in the table, just four points behind the Gunners.

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Dias, who defended resolutely to help preserve a clean sheet at the Etihad, declared that City's players savour these types of fixtures.

"We live for games like this," he said. "There’s no higher level than this level, so very happy for him [Pep], very happy for us and very happy for everyone because everyone played a great game.

"We have been talking a lot about a rebuild since last season and there were many changes in the team which is part of the process of any club that wants to keep on winning.

"The quality stays the same and we keep on pushing. It’s still early in the season, feet on the group. We’re going to keep on pushing."

Doku was named Player of the match after a thrilling display, completing seven dribbles, creating five shot creating actions and having 11 touches in the opposition box, all leading totals on the pitch.

When quizzed if he wants to see more of the same from the Belgian winger, Dias said:

"Yeah from him and from everyone. We need to push all of us. Myself, everyone, he needs to push me, I need to push him, we need to push everyone.

"I seen the amazing game that he did and I seen just now at the end the sprint that Erling did to compensate because I think I was inside.

"We live off these things. I remember still before I came to this club and from watching this club on TV, these were the details that make them win so much.

"These little differences of everyone ready to show up and sacrifice for the guy next to them."