Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists his opinion of Liverpool has not been altered by their below-par season in 2022-23.
Liverpool visit Guardiola's City on Saturday with their campaign all but over.
The Reds have long since been out of the Premier League title race and have a big task ahead of them just to finish in the top four.
They did not win the EFL Cup and are out of the FA Cup and the Champions League.
It is a far cry from last year, when Liverpool pushed City to the last day in the league, bidding for an unprecedented quadruple before falling just short and finishing with just the two domestic trophies.
City are fighting Arsenal for the title this season, but Guardiola expects Liverpool to be back, even if he has no explanation for their lack of consistency.
"They remain an exceptional team," said the City manager. "My opinion doesn't change for one season of ups and downs. Every club can have a season of ups and downs.
"Now, the biggest rival is a different one this season. But with what happened in the past and in the future, they could be a big rival.
"For one game, absolutely, they can beat everyone, like we can beat everyone. One game is one game.
"It's about being consistent, and always Liverpool have been. This season... I don't know why [they have not been], because I'm not there, and honestly I don't care. I don't know the reason why, so you'll have to ask my colleague."
If Liverpool's season has been one of "ups and downs", City's could yet end on a remarkable high.
Second in the Premier League and into the FA Cup semi-finals and Champions League quarter-finals, they remain in contention for the treble.
But Guardiola continues to take one game at a time, explaining: "It's the best approach we can have. It can be boring, maybe it would be better if I said the opposite, but the reality is it's [about] the next game. Otherwise it cannot happen.
"I've said many times: just one team in the history of the Premier League won the treble – the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup – because it's so difficult. That's why we should not think about these kind of things.
"We have this game, then we have a long week and after a tough, tough schedule with many games. The most important thing is that we are still fighting.
"We are in all competitions. That is awesome, that is so good."
Nashville SC v San Jose Earthquakes: ‘A win would change everything’ - Godoy
Anibal Godoy insists that Nashville are already looking at their game against San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday as a must-win.
Nashville have won just once in the MLS this season and sit in 14th place in the Eastern Conference after a run of four without a win.
The Earthquakes, meanwhile, are bottom of the Western Conference having lost eight of their matches and recording just one win.
Godoy is aware of how their poor start to the season could affect their playoff hopes later down the line but is confident that Nashville can turn things around.
He said: “For us, it's an important week. It's a day we have to win, or we'll start to feel the pressure from other teams as they start to separate in the table.
“This league is long but if we want to get to the playoff you have to win games early on, especially at home.”
Liverpool agree compensation deal for Slot
Liverpool and Feyenoord have reached an agreement in principle over a compensation deal for Arne Slot to become the Reds’ manager next season, according to widespread Dutch media reports.
The Dutchman is reportedly poised to take over from Jurgen Klopp, who announced in January that he would be leaving the club at the end of the campaign.
Slot led Feyenoord to their second Eredivisie title last season after taking over the club in 2021.
It is believed that he topped the list of Liverpool’s favoured candidates due to his attacking playing style and ability to develop players.
Former Liverpool midfielder, Xabi Alonso, who led Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title, and Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim were also reported contenders to take over from Klopp.
Slot had already confirmed his interest in managing in the Premier League, both earlier this week and previously when he was linked to Tottenham in 2023.
QPR 4-0 Leeds United: Shock loss for Farke's men seals Leicester's promotion
QPR thrashed Leeds United 4-0 in the Championship on Friday, ensuring Leicester City booked their promotion straight back to the Premier League.
Ilias Chair was the star for the Hoops as he scored the opener and assisted two more goals to ensure QPR will stay in the Championship for another season.
Lucas Andersen, Lyndon Dykes and Sam Field also got their names on the scoresheet in an emphatic win for Marti Cifuentes' side.
Leeds' heaviest defeat of the season was a huge blow in the race for an automatic promotion spot, with Ipswich Town just one point behind them in third place with two games in hand going into their away clash against Hull City on Saturday.
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