Daily Mirror

Injury-hit Lions look to Lewis

GUARDIOLA: I’M GUILTY

- 49% 2 4 2 2 10 1 0 51% 2 3 6 5 10 0 3 ENGLAND CALL BY JOHN CROSS

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“Jesus wanted to take it, yes, but it was my decision. What did I say to him afterwards? Apologise. I apologised, yes of course. It was my decision.”

He explained how he sent instructio­ns via Benjamin Mendy (above) for Mahrez to take the penalty: “I sent Mendy to tell him, yes, because during training sessions every day I see Mahrez every time take taking penalties and it gave me a lot of confidence.

“It will be good experience for him, next time it will go in. He had the courage to hit the penalty. In training session, he shoots perfect penalties. In the end, OK, it sometimes happens. In the end it is what it is.”

Guardiola’s ploy of slowing the game and defending in depth to stop Liverpool’s highenergy press so nearly paid off.

The Reds had one shot on target, with City’s 51 per cent possession their lowest in the league under Guardiola.

“If you play so quick they are much better than us,” he said. “If it’s an open game at Anfield, you don’t even have one per cent of a chance.”

Mahrez has now missed five out of 12 league penalties. “It’s football, it’s life,” he said. “It won’t affect me at all.” GARETH SOUTHGATE called up Brighton defender Lewis Dunk after England were hit with a string of injury scares.

Burnley’s James Tarkowski has been ruled out of the Nations League games against Croatia and Spain and Manchester United’s Luke Shaw and Tottenham’s Danny Rose are both worries.

Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell is in line for a call-up if either have to pull out.

England boss Southgate will check on Southampto­n keeper Alex McCarthy, who has been nursing a hamstring injury.

He rewarded Albion centre-back Dunk, 26, for his impressive form, ahead of Wolves defender Conor Coady (below), who is also on the radar.

Brighton manager Chris Hughton said: “We are absolutely thrilled for Lewis. He fully deserves this call-up.

“He’s shown his quality in the Premier League and his progressio­n has been a steady and consistent one.

“He’s improved with every season and, on the back of an impressive first season in the Premier League, he continues to progress. I’m delighted he’s now been given recognitio­n at internatio­nal level.”

Rose and Shaw are likely to report to St George’s Park to be checked by the FA medical team, who will decide whether they travel to Croatia for Friday’s game, with the trip to Spain next Monday.

Rose has been struggling with groin trouble and Shaw could miss out having picked up an injury in United’s 3-2 win over Newcastle.

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