Manchester City v Liverpool: Pep Guardiola seeks 'perfect game'
Last updated on .From the section European Football
Manchester City will have to play the "perfect game" on Tuesday to overturn a 3-0 deficit in their Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool, says manager Pep Guardiola.
City go into the second leg after back-to-back defeats by the Reds and derby rivals Manchester United in what Guardiola described as a "tough" week.
The Spaniard said he still had belief in his "extraordinary" side.
"The only way to play good football is to be positive," he added.
"To go through you have to make the perfect game, create chances and concede few chances. The chances we receive, we have to defend well.
"We have 90 minutes and anything can happen. All we are going to do is try.
"We have 90 minutes plus extra time and what we have shown this year - even in the last game - is we can create a lot of chances in the last few minutes."
Asked whether his side's mental state had been impacted by two defeats in the past week, Guardiola said: "I don't know.
"But, if we are not able to cope with that psychologically, it will be a good lesson for the future.
"It is a test. Football, like life, is a challenge."
Klopp waits on Salah fitness
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said City's back-to-back defeats showed they are "human beings" but acknowledged his side will have to be "at our best again".
"We are not thinking about who is favourite," he said.
"It is better than I expected but you all know there is still a lot of work to do."
City thumped Liverpool 5-0 in their Premier League match at Etihad Stadium on 9 September.
Referencing that game, Klopp said: "The quality of City was clear.
"We all know about Pep - best coach in the world. It was clear they would be outstanding but there is no perfect football team in the world.
"They have it most consistently, that is why they will be champions, but we know they can concede goals."
Forward Mohamed Salah, who has scored 38 goals this season, came off during the first leg, and missed the goalless Merseyside derby against Everton on Saturday.
Asked about his fitness, Klopp said: "Not sure 100%. We train at 5 o'clock.
"It is rather yes than no but we have to see. We will train and then make a decision."
'My team is extraordinary'
City have already won the Carabao Cup this season and remain on course to win the Premier League, holding a 13-point advantage with six games remaining.
"We don't need to talk about motivation," said Guardiola. "The way they played all the season shows what they want to do.
"My team is extraordinary, it is not comparable to others, it is top. I will be close to them no matter what happens between now and the end of the season.
"It's a joy to be manager of them."
City striker Sergio Aguero missed the first leg against Liverpool because of injury and was only used as a substitute against Manchester United.
He was denied a penalty after a robust challenge from Ashley Young, and asked about his fitness, Guardiola said sarcastically: "He was diving."
Guardiola does not expect Liverpool bus attack
City's bus was attacked on the way into Anfield for the first leg - with cans, bottles and flares thrown - but Guardiola does not expect his side's fans to do the same.
"Since I am here it has never happened once," he said. "I think you are not going to ask me [after the game] like you asked me in Liverpool.
"We knew what was going to happen. Where were the police? On Tuesday, the police know exactly what they have to do.
"For our fans it is just a football game. Come to the game and support us during the game. What happened last week has happened."
Liverpool have reminded fans of the "serious consequences" they face if they are caught with flares, smoke bombs and fireworks inside the ground.
Uefa has charged Liverpool over the setting off of fireworks, throwing objects, acts of damage and crowd disturbances following the first leg.
The case will be dealt with by Uefa's disciplinary body on 31 May - five days after the Champions League final takes place.
Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Police said there would be "an increased number of officers around the stadium as well as in the city".
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But if City pull it off.....then good luck to them and hope they go onto to win it.
Both teams are an advert how football should be played !
City and Utd fans in a mass brawl at Stockport station.
City fans filmed throwing bottles at the Utd bus.
And we still have comments below suggesting 'hooliganism' is a LFC problem.
You keep thinking that lad and Liverpool will breeze through.
17 minutes ago
"Where are all the Pogba and United haters today?"
Probably on a HYS that in some way relates to Man Utd instead of a HYS about Man City, Liverpool and a competition which Man Utd weren't good enough to stay in.
Hope that helps Jeb
Blimey
Nonsense! The 2nd string of LFC was all over Everton, who only played football in the last 10 mins! As for the semi-final, both would have a chance!
Because City fans are whiter than white throwing coins at Maureen right?
1. Those who use cheap insults because it's all they're capable of
2. Those who offer balanced views, even if you may not agree with it.
The latter group tend to be those who've followed their clubs for decades. So has a City fan of 49 years, I expect us to win tomorrow night but not the tie overall. I'll then hope L'pool go all the way. That's my balanced view
That's because we're Liverpool and in recent years, we've given up a 3-0 lead (e.g. Crystal Palace, Sevilla) and also lost 4-3 to Bournemouth after being 3-0 too.
I didn't like how we sat back but last week but we didn't concede which was a positive sign.
Hope we score an away goal or two.