Man City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking ahead of the Premier League clash at Liverpool on Sunday afternoon
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola(Image: Hayters TV)
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Pep Guardiola admits Liverpool remains the toughest destination for his Manchester City team as he prepares for their latest trip to Anfield. And the City boss is crossing his fingers over the availability of a number of key players ahead of the crunch clash.
City make the short journey down the East Lancs Road on Sunday afternoon aiming to keep in touch with runaway Premier League leaders Arsenal.
However, a home victory would see Liverpool close the gap on the second-placed team to five points and blow open the battle for Champions League qualification.
City still haven't won at Anfield in front of supporters since a Nicolas Anelka brace earned them a 2-1 triumph way back in May 2003.
And speaking on Friday afternoon, Guardiola said: "Anfield is the toughest opponent and a difficult place and stadium, especially (with) the quality of the players and the managers. It has been tough.
"They remain an exceptional team with a top-class manager, no doubt. Moments are moments and seasons are seasons. They always remain a good team.
"I have tried to see how they have played lately. What we have to do, if we have to adjust something. But this is Anfield. Big stages and big games always need big personalities.
"I've said many times it's not about the skill of the players in the Premier League and the big leagues at the top clubs, the skills are there. I don't know one player (at a big club) who isn't good enough to play at a big club.
"It's about how you behave - it's how you are, do it in the big stadiums and in the latter stages of big competitions. Of course the mind controls the body, but it's not just about that."
City will be without Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, Jeremy Doku and Savinho for the weekend, with Guardiola admitting there remain doubts over Bernardo Silva, who missed the midweek League Cup semi-final second leg win against Newcastle United.
"I don't know yet," said the City boss of Silva being fit. "Tomorrow we are training. (Ruben Dias) is back. We will see if he can play minutes, but it's good news for us. John (Stones) made training session with the team yesterday."
Erling Haaland was rested to the bench on Wednesday for the victory against the Magpies in which Antoine Semenyo and Omar Marmoush impressed up front.
And asked if Haaland would come straight back into the starting line-up, Guardiola added: "Erling is the best striker in the world. Does he play? I don't know. We decide tomorrow. I've always said Erling is the best."
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