First up, a word from the boss.
Following last night’s defeat at Anfield, with first-half goals from Mohamed Salah, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sadio Mane, it means City have a big task on their hands in the return match next week.
Speaking after the loss, Pep insisted that the Blues must put the defeat behind them and look ahead to Saturday’s big match against United.
“We didn’t create clear chances because they defended deep,” Guardiola said in his post-match press conference. “We needed one goal but we couldn’t score it.
“It is what it is, we have to accept it. Now in two days we have United at home, then two days after we have Liverpool. We’ll see what happens.
“We didn’t create clear chances because they defended deep. We needed one goal but we couldn’t score it.”
As we eye our next Premier League match, an article from Sky Sports suggests that we could see “deadlock” at the Etihad on Saturday afternoon.
The sports news outlet has compaired the two sides’ head-to-head form from the last – wait for it – 90 years!
“Current head-to-head form: Deadlock.”
“Manchester City only won five of their first 32 meetings with rivals United, but won nine of the following 14 between 1920 and 1937,” Sky Sports states. “The Cityzens also enjoyed spells of dominance in 1952-1955 and 1968-1975 before their recent run of superiority - starting in 2013.
“But City have lost three of their past seven fixtures - meaning the two sides are currently deadlocked.
“United’s strongest period of dominance was between 1990 and 2000, undefeated from 15 meetings and winning eight successive fixtures from 1993.”
READ: May fixtures changes
TAKE A LOOK: Match gallery
Finally, we turn our attention to some transfer gossip.
The latest reports from Spain claim that City have their eye on Real Madrid midfielder Marco Asensio.
Spanish outlet Diario Gol, known for their bold claims, have suggested that the 22-year-old is frustrated as he keeps finding himself on the bench, and state that Manchester City are keeping a close eye on the attacker.
“Asensio has said that in summer he will go to a club where they give him the love he is not receiving at Real Madrid – potentially a love that Pep Guardiola has been showing for months,” the translated article reads. “Manchester City is calling very strongly at the door for Asensio and the midfielder is already thinking very seriously to sign the offer of the English club.
“We will see if the ‘heater’ of the Balearic after his umpteenth substitution remains in that, a heater, or is serious and leaves as reasons are not lacking.”
That’s all for today’s media round-up, but we will be back the same time tomorrow with the latest from the back pages.
