Belfast Telegraph

Wehaven’t been sussed out by Reds, insists Pep

- BY MARK CRITCHLEY

PEP Guardiola has dismissed the idea that Liverpool have worked out his Manchester City side, despite beating them on three separate occasions last season.

Liverpool ended City’s Champions League campaign at the quarter-final stage in April, while Jürgen Klopp’s side also inflicted a first Premier League defeat of the season on Guardiola last term.

Klopp has the best record against Guardiola of any manager to face him on more than three occasions, winning eight, drawing once and losing five.

Guardiola (below), however, does not believe this proves that Klopp has discovered a foolproof way to beat his team. The pair meet again at Anfield on tomorrow and, when asked what he would say to those who suggest Liverpool have “worked out” City, he scoffed.

“Good, congratula­tions, they are right,” Guardiola joked, before taking a more serious tone. “Liverpool beat a lot of teams not just Manchester City. Liverpool is one of the two greatest teams in England.

“That’s why we tried to be close with them in terms of many, many things and we are closer. You have to learn. Anfield is special and it depends how we approach the game and how we are as a team.”

Guardiola also vowed that he would remain true to his principles and instruct his players to play on the front foot at Anfield, despite Liverpool’s fearsome attack.

KEEP IT FRIENDLY: Page 49

 ??  ??
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Ireland