Ruben Dias gave Pep Guardiola just what he wanted with Man City reaction at Liverpool FC

If Kevin De Bruyne was furious at being taken off the pitch, Ruben Dias can't have been thrilled that he was never on it.

Dias has been voted into a number of World XIs for his contribution to Manchester City's success last season, proving the rock at the heart of the team that won the Treble. As well as impressing people outside of the club, the Portugal international has also been part of the leadership group at the Etihad for some time now having made himself an invaluable part of the squad.

The only Premier League games prior to Sunday where Dias had been available and hadn't started were Burnley and Bournemouth, so he can't have been expecting to miss out at Anfield. For a player proudly committed to giving everything for the team, it will have hurt that he wasn't given the chance to play in such an important match.

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Guardiola may or may not have given his reasoning for the individual decision at Anfield, but he has already conditioned his defenders to expect changes given both the opponents and the skillsets of their teammates. As difficult as it may be to stomach being left out, centre-backs under the manager at least know where they stand.

"Pep sees the opponent and what might work better and for all of us the manager has his view of the game but for us as individuals and knowing that in every game things might change and we need to be very to adapt. It makes you think who we are playing against and why we are changing, so this is already part of how he sees the game and makes you see the game," Dias said earlier this year.

"He makes you think because it's