Pep Guardiola has said that he needs to "prove" he can end Manchester City's poor form and guide them back to the top.
Guardiola's side have not won in six matches and gave up a 3-0 lead to draw against Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday, albeit ending their five-match losing run.
City have lost their last three Premier League games, as many as they had in their previous 47 combined (W35 D9). They last lost four in a row between April and August 2008, while they last did so in the same season between January and March 2007 (five).
Their next outing is against Liverpool at Anfield - a venue where they have won just once in their last 21 trips in the Premier League, with Liverpool winning 13 and drawing the other seven.
"Of course, it's not nice, but what do you expect? That everything is red carpet? That everything is nice and easy?" Guardiola said.
"It's easy when you are [winning] 10, 12 games in a row, everyone is fit, everyone is in their prime and everyone is 26, 27, 28. When everything is going well, it is easy.
"I have to prove myself now."
Guardiola, who signed a new two-year contract extension this month, has won 18 major trophies during his time at the club, including City's first-ever Champions League in 2023 and six Premier League titles.
The new deal will take the Spaniard's tenure at the club to over a decade, making him City's longest-serving manager since Les McDowall in 1963.
But Guardiola hinted he could leave Manchester if he cannot turn around the club's season.
"In long careers - nine, 10, 11 years - you live all the situations. We lost five games, drew the last one when we should have won, but it happens in football sometimes," the 53-year-old said.
"[I have to] accept it. No complaining, no blaming, no pointing. Don't run away from your responsibility. I have absolutely all on my shoulders. I have it and I want it.
"At this football club, you have to win. If you don't, you will be in trouble. I know the people say 'Why is Pep not in trouble, why is Pep not sacked?' I have this margin because of what we have done over the last eight years. The people rely on me.
"What's for sure is, I want to stay. But the moment I feel I am not positive for the club another one will come. We will be back, I know that. I don't know when.
"In the situation we are in, it is not realistic to think about big targets. The situation is to think about the next game and what I can do to help the players. I don't want to run. I asked for this opportunity. I want to be there and rebuild the team in many aspects from now on until the end of the season and next season."
Sunday's game will be the first-ever meeting between Guardiola and Arne Slot, who has made a bright start to his role at Liverpool by guiding them eight points clear of City after 12 matches.
Liverpool dealt Konate injury blow ahead of Man City encounter
Ibrahima Konate confirmed he is set for a spell on the sidelines ahead of Liverpool's blockbuster clash against Manchester City on Sunday.
Konate was one of the standout performers for the Reds during their Champions League victory over Real Madrid in midweek but appeared to pick up an injury late in the game.
The Frenchman tangled with Madrid's young Brazilian winger Endrick, which left him lying prone on the turf, though he was able to complete the 90 minutes.
However, Konate is expected to miss this weekend's tantalising tie against Pep Guardiola's out-of-form City side, with reports suggesting he could miss up to 11 games.
"So frustrating to pick up this injury right at the end of a great game on Wednesday night," Konate posted to Instagram.
"Now we start the recovery process, but one thing I promise is I will come back and be the best I can be once again.
"Thank you for the amazing support at Anfield. Inshallah, we will keep going, and I will support the team every step of the way."
Konate's absence is a huge blow for Arne Slot's side, with the Frenchman having formed an imperious partnership alongside Virgil van Dijk this season.
The Reds have conceded just 12 goals from their 19 games in all competitions so far this term, with Konate playing a huge role in their new-found defensive resilience.
Only Van Dijk (40) has won more aerial duels in the Premier League for Liverpool this season than Konate (28), while the Frenchman has made more blocks (five) than any of his team-mates.
Van Nistelrooy announced as new Leicester head coach
Leicester City confirmed that Ruud van Nistelrooy has become their new head coach following the sacking of Steve Cooper.
Cooper was dismissed following the Foxes' 2-1 defeat to Chelsea last Saturday, their fifth game in all competitions without a victory.
Van Nistelrooy most recently took interim charge of Manchester United after they parted ways with Erik ten Hag following a poor start to the season earlier this month.
The Dutchman won three of his four games at the helm, with two of those victories coming against Leicester in the Premier League and the EFL Cup.
Speaking to LCFC.com, Van Nistelrooy said: “I’m proud, I’m excited. Everybody that I speak to about Leicester City football club is enthusiastic.
"They have great stories about the quality of the people working at the club, the supporters and, of course, the recent history of the club is impressive.
"I’m excited to start and to get to know everyone and give everything I can for the Football Club.”
This is Van Nistelrooy's first full-time role since May 2023, when he spent one full season in charge of PSV Eindhoven.
During his time with the Eredivisie side, he won 33 of his 51 games in charge (D10 L8), averaging a win percentage of 64.71%, while also scooping the KNVB Cup and Johan Cruyff Shield.
Leicester travel to Brentford this Saturday, with first-team coach Ben Dawson overseeing matchday duties ahead of Van Nistelrooy's arrival.
The Dutchman's first game in charge will be next Tuesday, when the Foxes host fellow bottom-half side West Ham at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League.
Maresca insists Chelsea not in Premier League title race
Enzo Maresca insists Chelsea are not in the Premier League title race despite their impressive start to the season.
The Blues are unbeaten in their last four league matches, including a 2-1 win over Maresca's former side Leicester City last weekend.
They have struggled at home at times this campaign though, with just 41% of their Premier League points coming in home games (9/22), the lowest ratio of any side so far this term.
However, Chelsea sit third ahead of this weekend's matches on 22 points, nine behind leaders Liverpool but just one behind reigning champions Manchester City.
Despite their high position in the table, Maresca played down hopes of Chelsea clinching the Premier League trophy in his first season.
"No [Chelsea are not in the title race], I said it many times," Maresca said. "I really like the pressure.
"I'd like to say: 'Yes, we're there' - but we're not there.
"It's nice to see the team improving, that is important; it is nice, a good feeling.
"At the same time, you need to be realistic, and you can see the difference between us and the rest at the moment.
"This doesn't mean we're not going to win games and not compete until the end, but the main focus has to be the feeling we're improving game after game.
"Arsenal is five years together [with manager Mikel Arteta], City more than eight years together [under Pep Guardiola]. Liverpool is a bit different, but they didn't make many changes from the past.
"This is the reason. It's not about points or difference in the table, it's just the time together."
Chelsea face Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Sunday.
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