Liverpool’s £103M star target produced another top-class performance away at Manchester City that proves he lives up to the hype.
Despite scoring the opening goal, Jude Bellingham’s Borussia Dortmund were edged out by the obscene quality from Manchester City late on.
In what was his second appearance at the Etihad Stadium, Bellingham once again justified his own hype by producing another midfield masterclass.
Games like that are the reason that Liverpool are ready to drop over £100M on the player next summer and there’s no doubt he’s a top-class player in the making.
Pep Guardiola: “Jude Bellingham is an exceptional, great player. I think everyone knows it, not just because the manager of Manchester City tells you!”. ⭐️🏴 #MCFC
“Everybody knows it, Bellingham is a top player”, @TomYoungSJ reports. pic.twitter.com/ZNbtoUHyOY
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 14, 2022
Bellingham masterclass
His opening goal was a moment of great anticipation from a corner which found its way to Marco Reus on the edge of the box, who fired a strike back into the crowded penalty area where it was turned instinctively by the 19-year-old.
Watching the goal back, you see a subtle movement from Bellingham before the strike that allowed him to get in front of the defender to glance it on target. Another example of maturity beyond his years on the big stage.
His 18th appearance in the competition saw him break the record for most appearances in the competition by a teenager – the experiences at this age will surely put him in great stead for the rest of his career.
To top it off, he also managed to break a goalscoring record too – his goal made him the highest-scoring English teenager of all time with four goals, moving ahead of Jadon Sancho, Theo Walcott, Phil Foden and Wayne Rooney. Just a reminder he plays in central midfield too.
It's that man, Jude Bellingham! ⚽️
The England midfielder gets his name on the scoresheet to put Dortmund ahead against Man City! ⚫️🟡#UCL pic.twitter.com/2V8INDDwxH
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 14, 2022
The numbers from the game speak for themself: 100% take-ons completed, 50 touches, four ball recoveries, four passes into the final third, three duels won, three clearances, two fouls won and, of course, one goal.
Pep Guardiola was on hand to sing his praises, and rightly so, as his club and Liverpool have been linked with a move in recent months.
“Jude Bellingham is an exceptional, great player. I think everyone knows it, not just because the manager of Manchester City tells you!”.
Liverpool are ‘expected’ to complete the Bellingham deal next summer, according to the Daily Mail – and performances like that are only going to make the potential deal all the more exciting as he clearly looks like the world beater we all paint him to be.
