Liverpool must be considered favourites for the Champions League last-16 tie with Inter, but the Nerazzurri deserve to be back in the latter stages of the competition, according to Simone Inzaghi.

Inter finished second behind Real Madrid in Group D, progressing to the last 16 of the competition for the first time since 2011-12.

This will be the fifth meeting between Inter and Liverpool. Each of the previous four have been in the knockout stages of the European Cup/Champions League, with the Serie A side progressing over two legs in the 1964-65 semi-finals – a year in which they went on to lift the trophy – and the Reds emerging from the last 16 in 2007-08.

Inzaghi knows his team cannot be considered favourites, given the strength of Liverpool, yet he wants his team to play with freedom on their return to the knockout stages.

He told a news conference: "Liverpool are one of the best teams in Europe, but our players deserve to play these kinds of games.

"We haven't played in the round of 16 for many years and although it will be very difficult, we'll try to make it.

"On paper, Liverpool are the favourite, but the games must be played. I'll ask the lads to go on the pitch and play our football with a free mind, showing our ideas. Determination will make the difference.

"The first step was to reach the round of 16. We'll face a top club with strong players, but all games start from 0-0. In some games, you must take care of every detail.

"We watched Liverpool's matches, the ones against Milan and the most recent ones.

"They have a deep squad, a great coach, they are intense, so we need to do well every time, both when we have the ball and when we defend."

Inter head into the clash having lost their grip on top spot in Serie A following a derby defeat to Milan and a 1-1 draw with their other title rivals, Napoli.

"I am not satisfied with the results, I didn't expect them," the former Lazio coach added.

"But I think we played two great games against two great teams who, along with Juventus, will be title challengers."

Inter have been eliminated from two of their previous three two-legged knockout ties against English opponents. All three of these have been at the round-of-16 stage, losing out to Liverpool in 2007-08 and Manchester United in 2008-09, before eliminating Chelsea a year later en route to winning the Champions League under Jose Mourinho.

They have, however, won their past two home games in the Champions League, one more than they had managed in their previous nine between November 2018 and September 2021 (D5 L3). The last time they recorded three consecutive home wins in the competition was between December 2009 and November 2010.

Trent Alexander-Arnold accepts there is pressure for Liverpool to win at least one trophy every season.

At the same time, Alexander-Arnold knows silverware will not come easily, noting star-studded Manchester City have yet to win the Champions League.

Still only 23, the England right-back is already a Premier League and Champions League winner, as well as holding medals in the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.

Liverpool remain in the hunt for silverware on four fronts this term despite trailing holders City by nine points in the league, albeit with a game in hand.

The Reds squad is arguably as strong as it has ever been, with the likes of Ibrahima Konate and Luis Diaz having bolstered strength in depth over the past two windows.

Homegrown talent Alexander-Arnold has noticed a shift in expectations over the past few seasons but does not feel there has been a lack of success in relation to the strength of performances.

"We don't feel disappointed we haven't won enough trophies. We feel the trophies we have won are the biggest and the best you can get your hands on," he said, ahead of Liverpool's Champions League last-16 first-leg tie at Inter.

"Obviously, I'm not making any digs, but you look at Man City's amazing team and they haven't been able to win the Champions League.

"They've won a couple of Prems but haven't won the Champions League; we've won both over the last few years, so it shows we're able to do it in both competitions.

"But I think there's an expectation now as a team, as players, to win trophies. One trophy a season minimum is what we want to be achieving with the squad we've got, the players, the manager. We should be winning trophies; if we don't, it's disappointing.

"We're not at that stage now where we're happy to just get to finals and it's unexpected and a day out. There's an expectation now to do that every season."

Assessing Liverpool's aims for this campaign, Alexander-Arnold acknowledged the title race is out of the Reds' hands to an extent but says there is a confidence among the team in all the other competitions.

"As a team, as a club, we do expect ourselves to go as far as we can in competitions. Looking at it now there's only the league that's not really in our hands, all other cup competitions we believe we can win them and beat anyone on our day if we get it right," he added.

"The only one is the league, anything can happen there, the other three we believe we're able to win them.

"I would say definitely on all four fronts, it makes it easier now having so many great players in the team.

"The season when we won the Champions League we almost won the league, we've shown ourselves and other people we can compete on multiple fronts.

"To have a place in all four competitions at this stage of the season is good for us, we've got a chance in a few weeks to add silverware early doors [in the EFL Cup final against Chelsea].

"That's the focus for us, to have a chance in all four competitions for as long as we can."

Jurgen Klopp allayed fears over the fitness of captain Jordan Henderson for Liverpool's Champions League last-16 first-leg tie at Inter, a team he considers the best in Italy.

Henderson suffered a minor back issue playing against Cardiff City in the FA Cup, which ruled him out of the 2-0 win over Leicester City.

The skipper was back as the Reds defeated Burnley 1-0 on Sunday and took a knock on the knee against the Clarets.

However, Liverpool boss Klopp confirmed Henderson will be fit for a mouth-watering showdown with reigning Serie A champions Inter at San Siro on Wednesday.

"Hendo is fine, he got a knock on his knee, today was the second day of recovery for a lot of players," Klopp said.

"So, not the longest session for him, but apart from that no issues really.

"He was back last week, his knee in the game definitely was not comfortable. The wound you can really see it, it looks like lips, should not be there. Apart from that he's fine."

Klopp's side, who were Champions League winners in the 2018-19 season, won all six of their group-stage fixtures – including one at San Siro against Milan.

The German boss believes that record will count for little against a Nerazzurri side he holds in the highest regard.

"Top-class team, top-class players and manager – I think it's probably the best team in Italy again this season, you can see it in the table at the moment," Klopp added.

"Very well organised, well drilled, individual quality is big.

"That's the Champions League, top-class team, we have to show a top-class showing, but why shouldn't we try?

"Historically the results in the group stage in the knockout stage don't count, so no advantage [to winning all six group games].

"It was good when we did it, we didn't expect it, we didn't think there was a chance to do that. But it doesn't help now obviously, it just shows we're a good football team.

"In years before when we went to the final we had average group-stage results, came through pretty much on one wheel.

"It's game 51 for me in the Champions League [with Liverpool], we gained some experience in the competition, that's what we want to use."

Klopp is operating with a near fully fit squad, something that has not happened all too often during his time at Anfield.

He welcomed such a rarity, and the opportunity to keep his team fresh with five substitutes allowed in Champions League matches compared to the three permitted in the Premier League.

"It's absolutely a good situation to have, no doubt about that," he said.

"What's much more important is how we play rather than who is playing. But it's good we have different options for different situations.

"We need fresh legs, but it's good we have a chance to make five changes, it's good for football in a really tough period.

"The boys have to deal with it as well. If I have opportunities to make more changes that's how it is, it means we can't always use the same line-up. We never had it before, it's pretty exciting."

Lautaro Martinez expects Inter to be quickly on the front foot when they tackle Liverpool in the Champions League at San Siro on Wednesday.

The blow of losing top spot to Milan in Serie A could be softened by a positive midweek result against Jurgen Klopp's Premier League giants.

Inter remain firmly in the Scudetto race, one point behind Milan and with a game in hand, and last season's champions are also eager to make progress in Europe.

Liverpool will provide them with a stiff test, and the Reds have already won away against Milan in the competition earlier this season.

Martinez told Prime Video: "Against Liverpool, we want to be protagonists, keep the ball, attack, defend the goal well and hurt the opponent."

The Argentinian forward has yet to score in the Champions League this season, despite totalling 2.14 expected goals (xG) in the group stage. That metric assesses the chances he has had, with Martinez having had 25 shots so far, of which just six have hit the target.

He has played six games in the Champions League in each of the last three seasons, hitting five goals in 2019-20 and one last term. Indeed, since scoring against Real Madrid in November 2020, Martinez has played 697 minutes without finding the net in the competition.

To get off the mark against Liverpool would be ideal timing.

"You will see a player who has grown a lot," Martinez said. "It will be a great game to play. We passed the group phase, which was already important to us. Now I hope to do well and to lend a hand to the team to try to move forward, which is our dream."

Martinez hailed Liverpool boss Klopp as "a great coach", and predicted the German will have done his homework on Inter.

"Liverpool have many strong players," Martinez added. "We have to prepare for the game well and work on the possession phase because it will be important. They attack with a lot of people, they play with very fast forwards. We will have to be careful."

Liverpool won home and away when these sides met at the same last-16 stage in the 2007-08 season, with Fernando Torres getting the only goal of the game at San Siro.

Up to this point, the only team to have recorded wins over both Milan and Inter in the same European Cup or Champions League campaign have been Harry Redknapp's Tottenham in the 2010-11 season.

Barcelona have been working to overcome their financial challenges over the past 12 months.

The Blaugrana have been plotting a way forward with their playing squad.

Barca landed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on a free transfer in January, as well as a loan move for Adama Traore.

TOP STORY – BARCELONA TARGET DE VRIJ

Barcelona are keen on Inter's Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij, reports Fichajes.

De Vrij is contracted with the Nerazzurri until the end of the 2022-23 season, but Barca may view him as Gerard Pique's successor.

Inter are reportedly open to interest from other parties, if the price is right, with the 30-year-old heading towards the final year of his present deal.

ROUND-UP

- The Daily Mail claims Paris Saint-Germain are putting together a lucrative deal to lure Paul Pogba to the club from Manchester United as a free agent. Pogba also has interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona, while he may still stay at Old Trafford.

- Newcastle United's efforts to sign Sevilla defender Diego Carlos will continue in the off-season after missing out in January, reports Marca.

- RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku has been added to Manchester United's list of off-season targets, claims ESPN.

- Crystal Palace and Watford are both keen on Liverpool veteran James Milner, according to Fichajes.

Chelsea have been crowned European and world champions since Thomas Tuchel's appointment just over 12 months ago.

The Blues, however, finished fourth in the Premier League last season.

Chelsea are third this term but 16 points behind leaders Manchester City with a game in hand, and it seems recruitment is in the offing.

TOP STORY – BLUES SET TO SPLASH THE CASH

Chelsea are set for an off-season transfer splash as they prepare to back Tuchel fresh from their Club World Cup triumph, according to The Telegraph, 

The Blues have their sights firmly set on signing long-term target Jules Kounde from Sevilla as a priority in the upcoming off-season.

Chelsea are also interested in West Ham United's England international Declan Rice and Monaco's 22-year-old French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni.

ROUND-UP

- Football London reports Arsenal are plotting a move for Chelsea forward Armando Broja, who is currently on loan at Southampton. The Gunners are short on attacking options after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's exit and with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah running down contracts.

- Fichajes also claims that Arsenal are interested in Milan forward Rafael Leao, along with Newcastle United.

- Barcelona are trying to agree new deals with star young pair Gavi and Ronald Araujo amid interest from Liverpool and Manchester United, reports ESPN.

- Juventus are willing to listen to offers for Adrien Rabiot and Alex Sandro according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

- Fichajes claims that West Ham want to sign Lille defender Sven Botman, Villarreal left-back Pervis Estupinan and Real Sociedad centre-back Robin Le Normand.

Liverpool responded to Manchester City's thrashing of Norwich by recording a hard-fought 1-0 win at Burnley.

Fabinho struck the only goal in the first half, as the Reds continued their fine set-piece record on a day when set-plays proved decisive across the Premier League.

Elsewhere, Raul Jimenez starred as Wolves leapfrogged Tottenham with a shock 2-0 win, and Newcastle continued their revival with a 1-0 win over Aston Villa, thanks to Kieran Tripper's free-kick.

The final game of the day saw West Ham rescue a dramatic 2-2 draw at Leicester City, with Craig Dawson netting a stoppage-time equaliser.

Burnley 0-1 Liverpool: Reds reap rewards of set-piece focus

Liverpool did not produce a vintage performance, but Jurgen Klopp's men kept leaders Manchester City on their toes by earning a vital away win.

The Reds had to work hard for the three points against Burnley at Turf Moor. After managing 27 shots, nine attempts on target and 50 touches in Burnley's penalty area in the reverse fixture at Anfield last August, Liverpool had just over half as many touches in Burnley's 18-yard box this time (26), managing 12 shots in total and just four on target.

However, Klopp's men dug deep to find a winning goal, and did so courtesy of their fantastic set-piece record. Excluding penalties, 14 of Liverpool’s 61 Premier League goals this season have come via set-pieces, more than any other team and more than the tally they recorded in the top-flight last term (13).

Fabinho's winning goal also means he has scored more goals in his last seven matches (five) than he managed in his first 142 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions (four).

Meanwhile, the Anfield outfit also maintained their record of having won each of their games in which the Brazilian has netted for the club, with that run now reaching eight matches.

Tottenham 0-2 Wolves: Jimenez proves decisive at Spurs once again

It was Wolves, rather than Tottenham, who asserted their top-four credentials by recording a huge win in north London, with Jimenez and Leander Dendoncker firing the visitors to a 2-0 win.

Mexican striker Jimenez has now scored in each of his last three Premier League appearances away at Spurs (three goals), with Wolves winning each of those contests.

Indeed, Jimenez has now scored four times in six appearances against Tottenham, and has only scored more Premier League goals against Southampton and Everton (five).

For Antonio Conte's Spurs, the defeat was their third Premier League reverse in succession, and they also lost three consecutive league games under Nuno Espirito Santo in September 2021. This marks the first time they have had multiple three-match losing games in a Premier League campaign since 2004-05 (also two).

Newcastle 1-0 Aston Villa: Another free-kick continues Toon revival

Newcastle's clash with Aston Villa was not exactly one for the purists, featuring the third-lowest expected goals tally of the entire Premier League season so far, but Tripper ensured that it was a memorable day for the Magpies.

Trippier's 35th-minute free-kick was enough to see off Steven Gerrard's men in a contest where both teams created just 0.5 xG apiece.

Remarkably, Newcastle have now scored a direct free-kick goal in each of their last three Premier League games (Jonjo Shelvey at Leeds, followed by Trippier against Everton and Aston Villa), becoming the first side to do so since Liverpool in December 2013.

In a game of fine margins, the England right-back showed the quality that he brings to the Magpies' relegation fight, and he is now the first Newcastle player to score direct free-kick goals in consecutive Premier League games since Hugo Viana did so in May 2003.

Jurgen Klopp appeared thrilled – and a little relieved – that Liverpool avoided slipping up away to Burnley on Sunday as they won 1-0 at Turf Moor.

Fabinho got Liverpool's decisive goal just before half-time, bundling in at the second time of asking after Sadio Mane flicked on a corner delivery.

But it was by no means a straightforward victory, as Burnley had their fair share of opportunities in the first half.

In total, Alisson had to make five saves – only once in his Premier League career has the Brazilian been forced into more in a single game (six, against Southampton in May 2021).

Although Burnley sit rooted to the bottom of the table, Klopp was under no illusions that the Clarets represented a potential "banana skin".

As such, he was in a good mood as the Reds ensured they can still trim Manchester City's lead at the summit to six points if they win their game in hand.

Klopp told Sky Sports: "A perfect afternoon – raining and windy. We scored from a set-piece and it was a brilliant goal, to be honest.

"Everything today was set up to be a banana skin for us. The balls in the air were so tricky to defend because the wind came from all directions. We played the circumstances rather than suffered from them.

"Most of their chances were offside but of course they had their moments, that is clear. They have quality, but we dealt with it pretty well.

"We had to work incredibly hard and that is what the boys did. We made our shirts dirty. I am really happy because I know how difficult it is to come here. Absolutely satisfied."

Defeat leaves Burnley with just one win from their first 21 Premier League games this season – they are the first club to have so few victories at this stage of a campaign since Derby County (also one win) in 2007-08.

As for Liverpool, they have now won each of their last six league games without conceding against sides who have started the day bottom of the table.

Liverpool continue to keep Premier League leaders Manchester City on their toes after claiming a slender 1-0 win at rock-bottom Burnley on Sunday.

City beat Norwich City 4-0 on Saturday to open up a 12-point gap at the top, but the Reds responded at Turf Moor by trimming that lead again, meaning they can still reduce the deficit to six if they win their game in hand.

It was by no means straightforward for Jurgen Klopp's men, however. Alisson was forced into several important saves in the first half as Burnley wasted numerous opportunities.

Liverpool had threatened as well and finally took the lead just before the break through Fabinho, and that ultimately proved decisive as the Reds did a far better job of controlling the contest after half-time.

In an entertaining opening 45, Alisson was the first of the two goalkeepers to be called into meaningful action by Josh Brownhill's 30-yard strike, before also denying Maxwel Cornet from close range.

Nick Pope then brilliantly got down to keep Naby Keita's effort out – Burnley countered from the resulting corner and should have scored, but Wout Weghorst's finish was poor.

Jay Rodriguez was the next to be thwarted by Alisson at point-blank range, with Sadio Mane then blasting at Pope from Trent Alexander-Arnold's delivery into the six-yard box a minute later.

Weghorst subsequently squandered another chance soon after and the Reds capitalised, Fabinho bundling over the line after Mane flicked on a corner.

Aside from a Ben Mee header, chances dried up drastically after the interval with the two teams' combined xG for the second half up to the 80th minute sitting at just 0.15.

Mee nearly turned a Salah pass into his own net late on and Diogo Jota saw an effort deflected wide when he looked destined to score, but it mattered not for the Reds.

The pursuit of 21-year-old Borussia Dortmund forward Erling Haaland is well known.

Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester United and Bayern Munich have all been linked with Haaland.

The race is set to heat up, with Haaland reportedly holding a €75 million (£68m) release clause in his Dortmund contract which triggers at the end of the current season.

TOP STORY – MAN CITY LEAD THE WAY IN HAALAND RACE

Football Insider reports that Man City are in the box seat to sign Haaland in a major development with his father Alf-Inge Haaland's connection with the club.

Alf-Inge played with City from 2000 to 2003 and is telling Erling to join the club ahead of other suitors.

City's Abu Dhabi owners are set to launch a concerted pursuit for the Norwegian and will be able to meet his release clause.

Madrid 's bid to sign Haaland may be aided by Adidas, who are associated with the club and looking to bring him on board, after his deal with Nike expired at the end of January.

ROUND-UP

- ESPN reports that Lyon are preparing a significant offer for Arsenal forward Alexandre Lacazette, whose contract expires at the end of this season. Lacazette joined the Gunners from Lyon in 2017.

- El Nacional claims that Madrid are open to selling Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, who is being targeted by PSG. Casemiro is a regular but his sale may open up funds for moves for Kylian Mbappe and Haaland.

- Franck Kessie will depart Milan when his contract expires at the end of this season, reports Calciomercato, with Barcelona entering the race to sign the midfielder, and Tottenham also interested.

- Sport claims that Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta already has an agreement in principle to join Barcelona on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of the season.

- Edinson Cavani will exit Manchester United at the end of his contract in June, with Spain his preferred destination rather than returning to South America according to Fabrizio Romano.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has hinted at hope of a resolution on Mohamed Salah's contract situation, stating that players can reach their peak in their mid-30s.

Salah, who turns 30 in June, has 18 months remaining on his current Liverpool contract but talks ongoing on a new deal.

The Egypt international has reiterated he wants to remain at Liverpool although there has been reports that his representatives want a bumper deal worth around £300,000-a-week.

Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group have been reluctant in the past to offer lucrative deals to players well into their 30s in the past but the two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner is showing no signs of slowing up.

"One or two years ago the first three players of the Ballon d'Or, apart from Salah who is slightly younger, were all 34 or older," Klopp told reporters ahead of Sunday's clash with Burnley.

"Lewandowski is 33, then Messi and Ronaldo [are] 34 and 37 and if you are lucky enough to get through a career without major injuries you can play long.

"There is no peak mid-20s. The massive advantage of early 30s, mid-30s is the player can see things in the right way having learned in his career.

"He can use that and he can be an even better player than he was a few years before and that is the plan with all of them. There is no age roof.

"For clubs it is different, they think 'we won't sign a 33-year-old because we cannot sell him any more' but if the player is already in then it is outstanding to have him around because they have experience, desire and quality."

Salah is the youngest of Liverpool's star attacking trio, alongside 30-year-old Roberto Firmino and Sadio mane, who turns 30 in April.

There may still be three months of the 2021-22 campaign to play, but Manchester United will already have one eye on next season.

Not only is there a question mark over who will be in charge, but United must also freshen up a squad that has once again underperformed this time around.

If reports are accurate, it may well be that two of United's long-term targets end up reuniting at Old Trafford.
 

TOP STORY – POCHETTINO WANTS KANE TO JOIN HIM AT UNITED

Mauricio Pochettino has long been considered the favourite to take over from Ralf Rangnick should the interim manager, as expected, step aside at the end of the season.

According to the Telegraph, Pochettino wants assurances that he will be financially backed if he leaves Paris Saint-Germain, with Tottenham striker Harry Kane reported to be on his radar.

Kane and Pochettino previously worked together for five and a half years at Tottenham and are said to still remain in contact.

However, Spurs resisted big-money interest from Manchester City for their star player last year and are not expected to budge too much on their valuation in the next window.

ROUND-UP

- Gareth Bale looks increasingly likely to leave Real Madrid when his contract expires later this year. According to one report, from Tuttomercatoweb, the Wales international has reached an agreement to return to Tottenham, where he spent last season on loan.

- Sport claims that Frenkie de Jong has no intention of leaving Barcelona in the next transfer window. The Ajax academy product is rumoured to be a target for Liverpool and Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

- Real Madrid have added Arsenal full-back Kieran Tierney to their list of transfer targets, Spanish outlet El Espanol reports. Los Blancos are seeking a replacement for Marcelo, who turns 34 in May and is soon to become a free agent.

- According to transfer expert Ekrem Konur, Brazilian side Flamengo remain in talks to sign Neto from Barcelona on a free contract. The once-capped Brazil international has played second-fiddle to Marc-Andre ter Stegen for the past three seasons.

- Inter midfielder Arturo Vidal is a man in demand ahead of becoming a free agent in July. Calciomercato suggests that Premier League sides Aston Villa and Tottenham, as well as Marseille and Galatasaray, are set to battle it out for his signature.

Jurgen Klopp has hailed his recruitment team at Liverpool for Diogo Jota's impact, believing the club signed the forward at exactly the right time.

Jota arrived at Anfield from Wolves in September 2020 for a fee reported to be in the region of £41million, potentially rising to £45m.

Some eyebrows were raised at the time at the size of the fee for a player who had scored 16 goals in 48 games in all competitions in the 2019-20 season.

However, Jota has thrived at Liverpool under Klopp, scoring 13 in 30 appearances in his first season on Merseyside and 17 in 30 this term.

In the Premier League, the Portugal international has 12 in 2021-22, trailing only team-mate Mohamed Salah's 16 after his brace in Thursday's 2-0 win against Leicester City.

Ahead of Liverpool's trip to Burnley on Sunday, Klopp was asked what the key to Jota's signing and development have been.

"It is timing," he replied. "I am 100 per cent sure Diogo Jota a year later would have had offers from other top clubs; maybe in the year we wanted him that was not the case.

"Similar with Mo, if Mo had played another season at Roma in a similar manner, there would have been other clubs in. 

"It is about what you need in the moment... The most important thing for a signing is that the team they join is in a good place. It means they don't have to change the world straight from the first day.

"Since I was here the team was always already good before a new player arrived, so they could settle in. Some quicker, some needed a bit more time.

"Fabinho was an example. When he came here it was really tricky to adapt to the way we play, the system we play. We tried to help him but it was not that we could do that overnight.

"If you have time, any player with the value of £40m, £50m, £60m or whatever, they are all quality, but you can't create a situation for them. The situation has to be there. When they arrive they have to join a settled team, and then they can help them to make the next step."

New Liverpool signing Luis Diaz impressed on his Premier League debut against Leicester, and Klopp was asked more generally about the success of the club's recruitment in recent years.

"There is no key apart from having smart people in the right positions, though I'm pretty sure other teams have that as well," he said.

"The boys we brought in, it is not that we bought bargains. Alisson was expensive but everyone sees how good he is, similar to Virgil [van Dijk].

"It is no secret that our transfers here have to hit the ground. It's not as if, as we say in Germany, we don't 'swim in money'. We are a wealthy club, no problems, but the policy is clear that we spend what we earn. For us, it is very important that we have to do absolutely the right thing.

"We have to think [many] times about it, and it might be that the player goes to another club, and we cannot change that, that's what we did so far. The club had incredible free transfers with James [Milner] and Joel [Matip] and we brought clear talents in with Robbo [Andrew Robertson] and other boys.

"I think transfers are very emotional. Fans think about it a lot with their heart, and we just have to think about it. It's not easy to ignore public pressure. It's almost like if you don't sign, you don't work, and we see it slightly different.

"We have brilliant people here who make really good proposals and we as coaches make good proposals as well and, in the end, so far we found, more often than not, the right solutions for this team."

Pep Guardiola does not believe Jurgen Klopp has given up on the Premier League title race and says Manchester City and Liverpool have changed the standards in England's top flight, much like Rafael Nadal in tennis.

Klopp's Liverpool are nine points adrift of reigning champions City, albeit the Reds have a game in hand over their sensational rivals.

As well as that extra game, Liverpool still have to face City again in the league in April, as the two most dominant teams in the division over the past few seasons again battle it out alone for supremacy.

However, when asked about Liverpool's pursuit of City by BT Sport after beating Leicester City 2-0 on Thursday, Klopp laughed and replied: "I don't think they smell our breath already, but we just try to win football games."

Guardiola, though, has no doubt Klopp has full belief he and his side can still finish on top come the end of the season.

"I don't believe him. Absolutely I'd believe, and he thinks the same that anything can happen," he said ahead of City facing Norwich City this weekend.

"He has to win a lot of games."

Manchester City won the title with a record 100 points in the 2017-18 season, before retaining their title with 98 the following campaign – one more than Liverpool managed.

Liverpool's own title triumph in 2019-2020 was achieved with 99 points, and Guardiola said the two teams have set new standards – much like tennis great Nadal did when he won his 21st singles grand slam title at the Australian Open, a record for a male player.

"The first title was 100 points and the margin was bigger, nine points or maybe six, it's nothing. When you have 40 points to play it can happen," he added.

"Both teams have shown it, they can do it again and so can we. Same managers, squads and ideas. They can do it and so can we. That is the reality. 

"We have to look at what we do tomorrow. When we have this many games and they are tough, we look at the next game, with the big problems, that's why it’s the best title in England. 

"So many problems and so many teams, these two teams are so consistent. This run we are on and we are only six points ahead, because the opponent is so good. We will play game by game.

"Us and Liverpool have risen the standards, getting 100 points. Liverpool with 98 and 99. Other teams look at that as the level. 

"When you win the 100 metres race, that is the standard. Nadal has 21 grand slams, that is the standard. He marked that."

Pep Guardiola has braced Manchester City for an assault by Liverpool on their Premier League supremacy.

City's lead stands at nine points after 24 matches, although second-placed Liverpool have a game in hand, and the manner of the Reds' 2-0 win over Leicester City on Thursday spoke of their continuing belief.

A dip over the Christmas and New Year period cost Liverpool substantial ground in the title race, but they are looking sharp again for Jurgen Klopp, setting up the prospect of a tantalising final few months of the season.

City and Liverpool are due to meet on April 9 at the Etihad Stadium, and that could yet be a pivotal moment in the title race.

"If we want to fight to win the Premier League, we will have to win an incredible amount of points against these opponents that we've faced in the last seasons many, many times," City manager Guardiola told a news conference on Friday.

"The margin against Liverpool is nothing. We have to win a lot, a lot, a lot of games. We have to get more than 90 [points] - 95, 96 to be champions.

"I'm pretty sure of that right now."

Reigning champions City have reached 60 points through 24 games, and if they carry on at that rate they are on course to hit 95 points for the season, while winning every game would take them to 102 for the campaign.

Liverpool can post a maximum of 96 points if they win their 15 remaining fixtures, and Guardiola does not expect the Reds to drop many.

Guardiola, whose team face Norwich City at Carrow Road on Saturday, spoke about Liverpool's threat amid a broader point on how he expects his City players to perform week-in, week-out.

He says he was raised in a culture at Barcelona, since he was a youth player, to take nothing for granted, no matter how sunny the outlook might seem. 

"I was born in Barcelona and I grew up in the academy. They taught me everything and the best way, even there, is [to think] that everything can go wrong," Guardiola said.

"We've made an incredible run so far in the Premier League, and now Liverpool is there behind the corner. That shows how difficult our opponent is, how good it is.

"It's not about the mentality, because these players have showed in the last years they're not scared. [The aim is] to face every single game with optimism and being positive, but knowing that of course we can lose by being bad and drop points.

"This is not the issue, it is how you behave in the moment when you are losing games."

He recalled a moment in City's midweek win over Brentford when Kevin De Bruyne rushed back to help out John Stones in defence, pointing to that as an example of how to give everything.

"You can lose. Of course you're going to lose, nobody wins always," Guardiola said.

"But it's the way you lose. You can lose in different ways. Many times when we lose, we lose as a great team, and you become a great team with the way you lose, not the way you win, and we have to continue this way."

Guardiola spoke once more about Riyad Mahrez, who has scored in each of his last seven appearances for City across all competitions. The last player to score in more consecutively for the club was Sergio Aguero in the 2013-14 season (eight games).

Asked whether Mahrez was in the prime of his City career, Guardiola said: "No, last season was his best moment. He can still do better this season to reach the level he reached in the last four, five, six months of last season. Last season was outstanding, the way he played and produced."

Guardiola has a win rate of 88 per cent against English managers in the Premier League (P66 W58), the highest of any manager to take charge of five or more such games.

His four games against Englishman Dean Smith, Norwich's former Aston Villa boss, have all been won by an aggregate score of 13-2.

However, Norwich have won seven points from their most recent three Premier League games this season, just one fewer than they had taken from their previous 12 fixtures (W2 D2 L8).

Smith is looking to become the first Norwich manager to go unbeaten for four Premier League matches since Chris Hughton in February 2013.

The visitors have other ideas, with Guardiola's City having won nine and drawn two of their 11 away games in the league since an opening defeat to Tottenham.

It is close to perfection, but Guardiola pointed out that is an unattainable goal in football.

"A team will never be perfect," said the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona head coach.

"As a human being, we are imperfect. Perfection doesn't exist in sports, especially in football."