Liverpool inspire Bernardo Silva like nothing else and he wants Man City faithful to match him

Pep Guardiola’s side might have created a host of chances and dominated possession but there were very few positives to be gleaned from Manchester City’s 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace. If Liverpool beat Arsenal on Wednesday, the gap at the summit will be down to a point; if Jurgen Klopp’s men then avoid defeat to lowly Watford, City will kick off at Burnley on April 2 in second place.

But some of us are wired differently and, in Bernardo Silva’s case, powered by an everlasting battery. Higher stakes of a must-win showdown with Liverpool next month? Sign him up. Admittedly, Bernardo, we wish you’d not missed a sitter in either half while covering 12.4km at Selhurst Park to help engineer the situation, but here we are.

"It is still better to be in our position than Liverpool’s, but it is very tight,” he said. “We have been in front of [Liverpool] plenty of times and we have been behind them for two seasons as well.”

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During the most successful era in Manchester City history, Bernardo has been one of Pep Guardiola’s best players. Against the most formidable rival of that era, Bernardo has been City’s best player.

Great sporting achievements can most easily be measured by the rivals you face, rise to and beat. Liverpool - the sight of them, the mere prospect of them, ignites something in Bernardo. Where we might have expected a crestfallen figure discussing a night of personal and collective disappointment in south London, we found a man with a sparkle crackling in his eyes.

However long he remains with City, the Portugal international’s performance in the pivotal 2-1 win over Jurgen Klopp’s side in January 2019 is