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Football

26th Jul 2018

Joe Hart nutmegs Mohamed Salah with audacious backheel

Jack O'Toole

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said earlier this year that his toughest decision during his tenure at the club was parting ways with goalkeeper Joe Hart.

The England international has been loaned out twice under Guardiola, first to Torino and then to West Ham United last season, but Hart hopes to convince the former Barcelona manager that he can still compete for his place with the Premier League champions.

Since his arrival at City, Guardiola has brought goalkeepers Claudio Bravo and Ederson to the club as the City boss looks to use credible passers from the goalkeeper position.

Passing isn’t Hart’s greatest strength but he showed on Wednesday evening during the Citizens pre-season friendly that he’s willing to try all manner of passes.

With Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah chasing down a Cameron Humphreys back pass to Hart, the City shotstopper took a touch on his right foot before backheeling the ball through Salah’s legs and back to Humphreys.

The play had the potential to turn into an absolute disaster for Hart but he managed to pull off the backheel and calmly play the ball back to Humphreys.

Although Hart got the better of Salah on that particular play, the Egyptian would beat him in the second-half with a close range header to equalise for Liverpool after Leroy Sane had given City the lead in the first-half.

The game looked destined for extra-time before Sadio Mane bailed Liverpool out in the final minute with a 94th minute penalty to give the Reds their fourth win of the pre-season.

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