Gloves are off as Premier League is living up to the hype

One of the nice things about Graeme Souness’ stubborn refusal to sugarcoat his punditry is that he sometimes seems to forget who his lords and masters are, writes Liam Mackey.

At half-time at the Etihad on Thursday night, he told his Sky Sports audience that television, with its necessary focus on the ball, couldn’t possible convey the full intensity of the unfolding clash between Manchester City and Liverpool, as individual battles raged and energy was expended all over the pitch.