By Korede James
Pep Guardiola has promised that his Manchester City side will give leaders Liverpool a tough time in Sunday’s English Premier League heavyweight clash at the Etihad Stadium.
City got dumped out of the UEFA Champions League after losing to Real Madrid 3-1 in the play-off second leg thanks to a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick.
The English champions’ attention is now focused on finishing in the top four of the Premier League, which would secure a Champions League spot.
“We can compete with any team. We have two central defenders out for two to three months. The Premier League is massively important for us. In the Premier League we have played really good games,” Guardiola said during his pre-match press conference on Friday.
“We are not stable but in other games such as against Newcastle, we have been at a high level. We will try to play a good game and the points that we need to stay up there to qualify [for the Champions League] next season.”
On whether Liverpool are stronger now than they were under Jurgen Klopp, Guardiola replied: “I’m not going to answer that question. I have much respect for Jurgen and I know you want to go but I will not play that game.”
City striker Erling Haaland did not feature against Madrid as he was named on the bench at the Bernabeu.
When asked about the Norway international’s fitness, Guardiola said: “Don’t know yet. Tomorrow we will know it but I don’t know. It’s better to have Erling on the pitch but obviously, we don’t have it but of course with Erling we are stronger.”
On John Stones, Guardiola said: “He’s injured, difficult one, next hours/days we will know whether he needs surgery or not.”
When he was pressed on whether Stones is set for a longer period of time on the sidelines, he said: “Yes, like Manuel Akanji [who is out for eight to 10 weeks after suffering an abductor injury in the first leg of their Champions League tie against Real Madrid].”
