Manchester City have submitted a planning application for the expansion of the Etihad Stadium, the club announced on Tuesday.

City's statement described "the development of a best-in-class fan experience and year-round entertainment and leisure destination".

The work centres around the Etihad's North Stand, which would be expanded to increase the stadium's capacity to over 60,000, City added.

A revamped fan zone, a new club shop, a club museum and a hotel also form part of the proposal.

City estimate it will bring more than £300million investment into the area, with the work set to take up to three years to complete.

The Premier League champions' announcement came following a period of consultation with supporters, during which City said feedback found fans were in favour of the plans.

The Etihad, listed as the City of Manchester Stadium, is included in the United Kingdom and Ireland bid to host Euro 2028. That bid listed a 61,000 capacity.

Liverpool are set for a busy off-season with suggestions that Jurgen Klopp and the club's management want a squad overhaul.

Among the key areas to address is their midfield options, leading to links to numerous players.

It was reported last week Liverpool have pulled out of the race for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham.

TOP STORY – REDS TO RAMP UP MOUNT INTEREST

Liverpool will ramp up their efforts to sign Mason Mount, amid a lack of a breakthrough in negotiations between the midfielder and Chelsea, reports The Guardian.

The Reds have now moved on from Bellingham given Dortmund's asking price, with Mount in their sights given he is out of contract at the end of this season.

Mount has offered no signs that he will extend his Chelsea deal, with Liverpool eager to capitalise and lure the 24-year-old England international to Anfield.

ROUND-UP

- Chelsea could look to join the race alongside Real Madrid for Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez, according to Fichajes. Alvarez is reportedly unhappy with his lack of game-time on the pitch at City.

- Manchester City are interested in an off-season move for Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies along with Real Madrid, reports Sky Sports Germany's Florian Plettenberg. Davies' contract runs until 2024 and he has held talks with Bayern on a new deal.

- Man City are also willing to let defender Aymeric Laporte exit in the off-season if he pushes for a move, claims the Daily Mail. Laporte, who is contracted until 2025, has fallen out of favour at City.

- 90min reports Arsenal are tracking Borussia Monchengladbach's Florian Neuhaus, who is contracted until 2024.

- Sport Witness claims Inter's Joaquin Correa has interest from Premier League trio Aston Villa, Everton and West Ham.

- Ex-Tottenham boss Antonio Conte will take over at Roma next season, with Jose Mourinho tipped to move to Paris Saint-Germain, per Calciomercato.

Manchester United legend Gary Neville declared Manchester City are "far too close for comfort" to matching their rivals' famous treble.

Alex Ferguson's side made history in the 1998-99 season by winning the FA Cup, Premier League and Champions League, a feat not achieved by any other English side.

However, City remain in the hunt on all three fronts this season and, while manager Pep Guardiola has played down talk of a potential treble, the fight is on.

City hold a 3-0 advantage over Bayern Munich ahead of Wednesday's second leg of their Champions League quarter-final, and face second-tier Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley on Saturday.

In the Premier League, City sit four points behind Arsenal with a game in hand and take on Mikel Arteta's side a week on Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium.

As a result, Neville has admitted his concern that United's arch-rivals could match his club's historic achievement.

"I thought their Bayern Munich game was sensational. Bayern Munich were fantastic in the game in the first half and when Pep Guardiola said after the game he was worried, I could feel that as Bayern looked dangerous and sharp," he said on the Gary Neville podcast.

"He was resting players against Leicester because he knows he has to go to the Allianz Arena and it will be tough and he knows that. If Bayern get a goal, it is a bit like Anfield where they can go and get two or three.

"They've had a brilliant week, City. To win that game 3-0 and beat Liverpool 4-1, they're purring, they're playing well. They're serious now about it and they're in great form now.

"Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan in midfield, the best midfield you can get. Up front, Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez are really settled now. They're hitting the home straight.

"The treble was mentioned last week, it's definitely on. They can win the European Cup, FA Cup and the Premier League.

"There's a long way to go, they can come up against a team that does them on the way: Real Madrid in the Champions League, Manchester United or Brighton in the FA Cup or they could lose to Arsenal at the Etihad, but they're very close to it. Far too close for comfort."

Pep Guardiola hailed Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne's "special connection" after their eighth Premier League goal combination of the season.

The pair were key once again as City beat lowly Leicester City 3-1 on Saturday.

Haaland scored twice to take his goal tally in the league to 32, matching Mohamed Salah's record for a 38-game season. 

His second goal came when he latched onto a precise De Bruyne throughball, marking the eighth time the Belgium international has teed up a Haaland strike in the top flight this term.

That is one off the joint record of nine, shared by Tottenham duo Harry Kane and Son Heung-min and ex-Liverpool forwards Stan Collymore and Robbie Fowler.

"I think the connection between Erling and Kevin is obvious," Guardiola said. "I think Kevin needs the runners to do his biggest quality.

"Erling needs an assist player to make his positive runs. It's a natural way. We talk a lot about 'take a look at him when he runs and put the ball there'.

"When the ball is correct, and he has this space, he is unstoppable. We know it. But they have a special connection and you can see this.

"But what I like about that second goal is Kevin won the duel. I love that. He won the duel and after that, the run and finish from Erling was fantastic."

De Bruyne's eight assists to Haaland is three more than any other Premier League player has managed to a team-mate this term, with Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes having set up Marcus Rashford on five occasions.

Victory over Leicester, combined with Arsenal's 2-2 draw against West Ham, means City are just four points off the Gunners with a game in hand.

The title rivals will meet on April 26, in what looks set to be the decisive clash.

Real Madrid are eager to rejuvenate their squad for coming seasons with investment set to come in the off season.

Los Blancos are set to finish second in the LaLiga title race to Barcelona who hold an 11-point lead with nine games to play.

The depth of the reigning European champions, who are in this season's quarter-finals, has been tested at times this term.

TOP STORY – MADRID BOSS TO SWOOP ON CHELSEA TALENT

Fichajes claims Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has identified Chelsea quartet Reece James, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic as potential targets.

The latter three are all out of contract in 2024, meaning Los Blancos could sign them for free if they do not re-sign.

Perez is plotting to capitalise on Chelsea's downfall this term, with the club to miss next season's Champions League.

Kovacic previously spent three seasons at Santiago Bernabeu, while Mount has attracted interest from several top clubs given his quality and contract status.

ROUND-UP

– Lionel Messi wants to return to Barcelona when his Paris Saint-Germain contract expire at the end of this season, reports Fichajes. Messi will overlook offers from Saudi Arabia and MLS club Inter Miami to return to his former club.

– Manchester United are in pole position to sign French defender Axel Disasi from Monaco in the off season, claims Football Insider. Disasi is out of contract in 2025, with Chelsea and Manchester City also said to be interested.

– Liverpool have turned to Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch as an alternative to Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham, claims The Times.

– Calciomercatoweb claims Arsenal are still in the race to sign Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic, despite stiff competition from Madrid and PSG .

– Toni Kroos is set to accept a contract extension offer from Madrid and re-commit to the club for another 12 months, reports Marca.

– Chelsea have met with ex-Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann as they look for their next permanent manager, according to The Times.

Bukayo Saka's penalty miss proved costly for Arsenal as the Premier League leaders yet again surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with West Ham.

Saka shot wide from 12 yards in the 52nd minute of Sunday's encounter at London Stadium, with Jarrod Bowen swiftly pulling West Ham level.

Mikel Arteta's team – who saw Manchester City defeat Leicester City 3-1 on Saturday – started brilliantly, going 2-0 up inside 10 minutes thanks to Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard.

Yet Said Benrahma's penalty saw the nerves set in, with West Ham taking advantage of Saka's shocker as Arsenal were unable to restore their six-point lead at the top.

Arsenal looked set to canter to victory after a stunning opening 10 minutes.

Jesus tucked in at the back post following slick combination play between Ben White and Odegaard, who made it 2-0 with a cushioned volley from Gabriel Martinelli's exquisite cross.

Yet Thomas Partey gifted West Ham a lifeline when he was robbed by Declan Rice, who fed Lucas Paqueta, with the Brazil international drawing a desperate lunge from compatriot Gabriel Magalhaes.

Having been sent the wrong way by Benrahma's penalty, Ramsdale denied West Ham a quickfire second when he tipped over Michail Antonio's header, with another Partey blunder having handed the Hammers a free-kick.

Antonio's handball from Martinelli's strike seemed destined to signal game over for West Ham, only for Saka to slice the resulting spot-kick well wide.

West Ham made Arsenal pay. Bowen capitalised on slack defending to latch onto Thilo Kehrer's punt, with Ramsdale unable to keep out the winger's volley.

Arsenal were saved by the woodwork late on, Antonio's header striking the crossbar, though the title race momentum nevertheless seems to have swung City's way.

Real Madrid are reportedly eager to bolster their full-back options, to upgrade from Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy.

Los Blancos were linked with Manchester City's Joao Cancelo - currently on loan at Bayern Munich - earlier this week by Fichajes.

The Spanish giants are set to miss out on this season's LaLiga title, with Barcelona leading by 10 points.

TOP STORY – MADRID KEEN ON LIVERPOOL'S TAA

Real Madrid will turn to Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold should they fail to land Reece James from Chelsea, claims Ekrem Konur.

Los Blancos are in the market for a new full-back and Konur claims Madrid could also turn to Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong.

Alexander-Arnold has had a mixed campaign for Liverpool, who appear set for a squad revamp in the off-season. The 24-year-old England full-back is contracted with the Reds until 2025.

ROUND-UP

– Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is an admirer of Torino's 21-year-old midfielder Samuele Ricci with Los Blancos keeping tabs on his situation, according to Tuttosport.

– The Sunday Mirror claims Manchester City are leading the race to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham from Real Madrid , with Liverpool having pulled out.

– Chelsea are looking to offer Romelu Lukaku as part of a deal with Atletico Madrid to sign Portuguese forward Joao Felix permanently, reports Fichajes. Chelsea are unwilling to pay Atletico's €100m asking fee, but may part with €70m along with the Belgian forward.

– Tottenham are tracking Barcelona winger Ansu Fati, reports Mundo Deportivo. The report suggests Spurs are willing to make him their most expensive transfer in club history.

– RB Leipzig are considering a move to sign Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun in the close season, claims Todofichajes. Balogun has impressed this season on loan with Reims .

– Chelsea have interviewed Sporting boss Ruben Amorim about taking over as manager next season, reports talkSPORT.

Kevin De Bruyne became the second player to reach 100 Premier League assists for one club as the Manchester City playmaker teed up Erling Haaland for the hosts' third goal in a 3-1 win over Leicester City.

The result cut Arsenal's lead to three points at the top of the table, ahead of the Gunners' trip to West Ham on Sunday.

Saturday's games saw Ollie Watkins remain in eye-catching form for Aston Villa, but there were grim home defeats for London giants Chelsea and Tottenham as Brighton and Hove Albion and Bournemouth celebrated impressive victories.

Here Stats Perform, guided by notable Opta match facts, unpicks the finer detail from the day's Premier League action.

Manchester City 3-1 Leicester City: Haaland and De Bruyne star as City keep pressure on

Armed with a 3-0 lead after 25 minutes, Manchester City took their foot off the pedal and Leicester gained a foothold, but the Foxes rarely get much from this fixture. It is 11 wins in their last 13 league games against Leicester now for Pep Guardiola's team, and five wins from as many meetings.

City are on a 10-match winning streak across all competitions, which they have bettered only twice during the Guardiola era, having a run of 21 wins from December 2020 to March 2021, and an 11-game run from August to October in 2017.

Haaland scored twice to take his goals tally to 32 in the top flight, ever closer to the Premier League record of 34 in a single campaign, while De Bruyne's pass that set up the Norway striker's second meant he completed 100 assists for City. Ryan Giggs, with 162 for Manchester United, is the only other player to reach a century of assists for one club in the Premier League.

De Bruyne has now assisted 10 goals for Haaland across all competitions this season, and that is the most assists any one player has had for the young goal machine with a top-flight club, beating Jadon Sancho's nine when he and Haaland were team-mates at Borussia Dortmund in the 2020-21 campaign.

Leicester remain deep in relegation trouble, with the 2015-16 Premier League champions having taken just eight points from 16 games in the competition (W2 D2 L12), losing eight of their past nine.

Aston Villa 3-0 Newcastle United: Watkins and Villa hit half-century marks as Emery revival gathers pace

Aston Villa were hovering precariously closely to the relegation zone when Steven Gerrard was sacked in October. A sensational recovery continued as they steamrollered third-placed Newcastle on Saturday, with their winning run in the Premier League now at five games.

They last reached five wins in a row in the competition on this corresponding weekend 25 years ago, when John Gregory was boss, and Saturday's result means Newcastle's Eddie Howe has lost his last four league clashes with Villa manager Unai Emery, who was previously in charge of Arsenal, by an 11-2 aggregate.

Villa have reached 50 points from 31 games, the earliest they have achieved that tally since they got there in 29 matches in 2009-10, and Watkins has been a key figure in the team's resurgence.

The England striker added to Jacob Ramsey's opener, which came from Watkins' headed assist, by netting a second-half double to take the game away from the Magpies.

Watkins' 50th, 51st and 52nd goal involvements for Villa (39 goals and 13 assists) came in his 102nd Premier League game for the team, with only Christian Benteke (88 games) having reached 50 in fewer games in the competition for the club. Watkins has 12 goals and three assists on Premier League duty since the World Cup, with only Haaland (16) having more goal involvements during this time.

Chelsea 1-2 Brighton and Hove Albion: Seagulls swoop for Stamford Bridge scalp

Brighton substitutes Danny Welbeck and Julio Enciso did the damage, and Chelsea could have no complaints. In terms of expected goals (xG), Brighton bossed this, ending with 2.28 compared to the hosts' 0.60.

After failing to win against Chelsea in 14 Premier League matches, Brighton have done the double this season, having won 4-1 at home in October.

Chelsea's winless run at home in the league now stands at four matches (D2 L2), and that is their worst streak since taking just one point from their final five games at Stamford Bridge in the 2015-16 season.

Only Manchester United (10) have had more goals from substitutes than Brighton (8) in the Premier League this season, and those two sides meet next weekend in the semi-final stage of the FA Cup.

Tottenham 2-3 Bournemouth: Echoes of Balotelli as Outtara stuns Spurs

Tottenham have Aston Villa and Brighton in hot pursuit after this shock reverse, with Dango Ouattara getting Bournemouth's winner four minutes and 11 seconds into stoppage time.

It was the latest winning goal Bournemouth have ever scored in the Premier League, as well as being the second-latest winning goal scored against Spurs by any team on record since 2006-07, after Mario Balotelli's strike for Manchester City in January 2012, which came after four minutes and 39 seconds of added time.

This was Bournemouth's first away league win against Tottenham, after losing on all five previous attempts, and it marked the first time Spurs have lost at home when taking the lead since a 3-2 setback against Southampton in February of last year.

Bournemouth have won five of their last nine Premier League games and have remarkably leapt six points clear of the bottom three, having won just five of their previous 25 matches. Dominic Solanke scored the Cherries' second and provided assists for their two other goals, scoring and assisting in the same Premier League game for the third time this season, with no player having done so on more occasions.

Pep Guardiola acknowledged his substitutions made for a nervous finish after seeing his Manchester City side ease up in a 3-1 win over Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium.

City closed the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to three points as Erling Haaland struck twice in the first 25 minutes, after John Stones' fine volley had given the hosts an early lead.

With City cruising against their out-of-form opponents, Guardiola withdrew both goalscorers at the break, with Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri and Jack Grealish following after the interval.

Leicester then threatened an unlikely fightback after Kelechi Iheanacho tapped in for 3-1, with the Nigerian hitting the post late on and James Maddison missing a fine chance.

Asked if Leicester's late onslaught had caused any nerves, Guardiola told Sky Sports: "Of course we were worried. 

"It was 3-1 from our mistake and they had the chances with Maddison and Kelechi, so the game was tricky in the last 15 minutes. The first 60 or 65 minutes was good.

"I'd like us to push ourselves better and avoid what happened after 3-0, so we do not suffer, but it happened because of the substitutions. From my experience, when you do that, this happens."  

City have won nine successive games as they chase silverware on three fronts, and Guardiola says alterations were necessary in order to preserve his stars' fitness.

"We started really well, with incredible focus, but at the end when you make a lot of substitutions at the same time, you always drop a little bit," he said.

"If the guys from the second half started, it would be the same approach that we had in the beginning. It's just a fact that playing every three days, we have to make a lot of rotations.

"I made just two [changes] in the beginning. When the game was under control, I made the rest."

City turn their attentions to the Champions League on Wednesday, looking to defend a 3-0 first-leg lead when they visit Bayern Munich in an attempt to reach the semi-finals.

Asked by BBC Sport if Bayern had a chance of overturning City's advantage, Guardiola said: "Absolutely, we know that. We have to try our game and think we will win the game. 

"We have to defend otherwise they have the rhythm. It's a real tough opponent. We go there to achieve something unique, to reach a semi-final.

"We have to play with the right mentality, be stable in the bad moments and go for it."

Pep Guardiola is keen for Manchester City to keep Bernardo Silva beyond the end of this season, declaring he would like the see the midfielder stay "forever".

Guardiola acknowledged Silva was interested in a move to Barcelona last year, but a transfer failed to materialise and the Portugal international stayed with the Premier League champions.  

Silva has appeared in 27 of City's 29 league games this term, and he produced arguably his best performance of the campaign in Tuesday's 3-0 Champions League win over Bayern Munich.

While the 28-year-old will likely attract more admiring glances in the next transfer window, Guardiola wants him to stay at the Etihad Stadium for the long term.

"With Bernardo, it's not the first season we are together. What he is on and off the pitch… he's so sensitive, intuitive," Guardiola told Sky Sports.

"All the club, not just me, want the best when you are lucky enough to have these kinds of football players and human beings in your team.

"You would love to have him forever, it doesn't matter what position he plays or what he has to do, his contribution is massive."

Silva is not the only City midfielder to have been linked with Barcelona, with the agent of Ilkay Gundogan denying reports the Germany international has agreed to join the Blaugrana upon the expiration of his contract.

Asked whether he expected to duo to stay, Guardiola said: "I don't know what is going to happen. Honestly, I'm not involved, ever. In that, the club can take the lead and decide everything.

"The words I gave to you right now about Bernardo… Bernardo could be the same as Ilkay, for many, many years. He's even my neighbour!" 

Silva and Gundogan have both featured in four Premier League title triumphs since joining City, though the Champions League trophy has so far eluded them.

That could change this term as City remain in contention for a Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble, but Guardiola believes it is too soon to envisage winning all three.

"The treble starts to happen when you are in the three finals, when you are there," he said. "You can talk about that when they start. 

"Now you are just in the quarter-finals, not even reaching the finals, it's okay for the writers but the reality is completely different."

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City have enjoyed "incredible" success in keeping Erling Haaland fit, claiming his occasional early withdrawals of the striker have been justified.

Haaland sustained several injuries during his prolific two-year spell at Borussia Dortmund, netting 22 goals despite only starting 21 Bundesliga games in his final season with BVB.   

However, only Ederson (2,610) and Rodri (2,407) have played more Premier League minutes for City than Haaland this term (2,187) as Guardiola's men bid for a fifth title in six seasons. 

Haaland has averaged a goal every 72.9 minutes in his first Premier League campaign, and Guardiola says City have a host of medical professionals to thank for his continued availability.

"I don't know what he did in Dortmund but we take care of him 24 hours – we have incredible doctors and physios. They are behind him every second of the day," Guardiola said.

"It's difficult to understand why you would spend a lot of money [on players] and then leave them, but I don't know what the other clubs do.

"With this demanding schedule of games every three or four days we have to take care of them with nutrition, rest, sleep, food.

"For the training, how many minutes – there is data. Sometimes they cannot train more than 10 or 15 minutes."

Guardiola has been criticised for denying Haaland the opportunity to further his goalscoring exploits by substituting him early in some games – most notably when the Norwegian had helped himself to five goals within 57 minutes of a 7-0 Champions League win over RB Leipzig.

The City boss maintains those decisions are taken with the player's condition in mind and believes they have been justified.

"People say, 'Why was he subbed against Leipzig when he'd scored all the goals?' But then he was injured after the Burnley game," Guardiola said.

"He could not play with us against Liverpool or for Norway. We know we have to keep a watch because he's so big. Physios, massage, back, shoulders, tendons... everything.

"He works so much inside the training centre, much more than on the pitch. Today in modern football, players train more behind the scenes than on the pitch."

Haaland has scored 30 Premier League goals ahead of Saturday's game against Leicester City, with only Andrew Cole enjoying a more prolific debut campaign in the competition (34 in 1993-94).

Ilkay Gundogan's agent has denied reports that the Manchester City captain has agreed to join Barcelona.

Gundogan has just over two months remaining on his City contract, and it has been reported he is set to join Barca as a free agent on a two-year deal with the option of a further 12 months.

However, Ilhan Gundogan, the 32-year-old's uncle and representative, has rubbished suggestions the Germany midfielder has already decided to join the LaLiga leaders.

He told AS: "I'm surprised where the stories about an agreement being closed many weeks ago come from.

"There is still no agreement with any club. It has not yet been decided where he will play in the coming years."

He added: "Ilkay can still win three big trophies this season as Manchester City captain. That's the only thing he's focused on right now."

Gundogan has won four Premier League titles since joining City from Borussia Dortmund in 2016, also lifting the EFL Cup four times and the FA Cup in 2019.

Dean Smith is hoping James Maddison can replicate Jack Grealish and ensure Leicester City avoid relegation.

Smith, appointed as Leicester's interim manager this week, faces his former Aston Villa charge Grealish when the Foxes take on Manchester City on Saturday.

Leicester sit 19th, with Smith tasked with keeping them in the league. He managed to stave off relegation with Villa in the 2019-20 season, with Maddison's England team-mate Grealish playing a key role.

Maddison was at fault as Leicester lost 1-0 to Bournemouth last week, but with nine goals and six assists to his name in the league this term, is the Foxes' key player.

Smith said: "James is an excellent footballer. He held his hands up after making a mistake but the first thing I asked him was why he was coming so deep to get the ball.

"The second thing I asked was why we had given him the ball when there was no forward pass for him to play.

"He will learn and get better but he is our second-top goalscorer this season. He can be a big player but we have to get him into areas where he can hurt the opposition, similar to what we did with Jack at Villa."

City are six points behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand, but Pep Guardiola knows his team cannot afford a slip-up.

Guardiola said: "Everybody knows that if we lose it is over. That is the best way to compete. In every football action, the players are feeling that they have to win a due or win an action because if not, they will lose.

"That is where you have the best [opportunity]. I have doubts about whether experience counts a lot for next time."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Manchester City – Kevin De Bruyne

Kevin De Bruyne has assisted seven goals for Erling Haaland in the Premier League this season, the most by one City player for another in a single campaign. The Belgium international's next assist will be his 100th for the club in the competition.

Leicester City – James Maddison

Maddison has scored in this exact fixture in each of the last two campaigns; only two visiting players have scored a Premier League goal at the Etihad Stadium in three consecutive seasons – Collins John (2004-05 to 2006-07) and Tim Cahill (2008-09 to 2010-11).

MATCH PREDICTION – MANCHESTER CITY WIN

Having lost seven of their last eight Premier League games (D1), Leicester have now been beaten in 19 league matches overall this term. Not since 2001-02 (20) have the Foxes lost 20+ league matches in one season, while should they lose against City, it will be the joint-second earliest they have ever hit 20 defeats in a Football League campaign (31st match, level with 1914-15), after only 1980-81 (30th).

Since losing 1-0 at Spurs in February, City have won seven of their last eight Premier League games (D1), including each of the last five in a row. They have scored 22 goals and conceded just six in this run, opening the scoring on seven occasions.

City have won 10 of their last 12 Premier League games against Leicester City (L2), winning the last four in a row since a 5-2 home defeat in September 2020.

OPTA PREDICTION

Manchester City – 75.1 per cent

Leicester City – 8.5 per cent

Draw – 16.4 per cent

Thomas Tuchel declared Bayern Munich are "dying for revenge" after their humbling by Manchester City as he revealed Manuel Neuer is stepping up his comeback from injury.

The Bayern head coach oversaw a 3-0 defeat at City in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.

It was only in the last quarter of the game that City brought down the hammer, taking advantage of generous defending from the Bundesliga leaders.

Many would suppose the tie is all but over, yet Tuchel does not see it that way, with Bayern looking to make their home advantage count in the second leg next Wednesday.

"It's important not to lose focus," Tuchel said. "The task seems almost impossible, but nothing is impossible in football. I can feel that we are dying for revenge and the second leg."

Neuer will play no part in that game against Pep Guardiola's City, but the Bayern captain is making promising progress after the broken leg he suffered when on a skiing holiday after Germany's early exit from the World Cup.

There is no expectation of Neuer featuring again this season, which continues for Bayern with a home Bundesliga clash on Saturday against a Hoffenheim side who have won three games in a row.

"At the moment it is a great pleasure to watch Manuel Neuer in rehab every day," Tuchel said.

"Yesterday he did the first goalkeeper-specific exercises in the rehabilitation area. That gave me a good feeling to see he's making some good steps forward.

"I'm 100 per cent sure that Manu wants to come back to play at the highest level. We encourage him along the way, he is our captain and the captain of the German national team as well."

It remains to be seen, once Neuer is fit, whether he swiftly takes back the first-team goalkeeping role from Yann Sommer, who was brought in from Borussia Monchengladbach in January as an emergency recruit.

In 17 games for Bayern, Sommer has a save percentage success rate of only 63.79, compared to Neuer's 75.44 per cent before he was injured.

It would be a huge decision not to reinstate Neuer, even though at 37 he has entered the twilight years of his career.

"He's a great personality in German sport," Tuchel said. "He gets every possible support and Yann also gets every possible support."

Tuchel also backed Dayot Upamecano, who was at fault for City's second goal when he haplessly lost possession to Jack Grealish when striding out of defence, creating an opening for the hosts that saw Erling Haaland cross for Bernardo Silva to head in.

Upamecano had a shaky second half and looked out of his depth at times, but Tuchel believes the France defender has plenty to offer.

“We have to protect our players. He knows himself that he made mistakes. I don't have to tell him," Tuchel said. "But at this level, where he took the decisions with a lot of risk, we don't want to see that. We have been badly punished for it.

"In the second half he was a bit insecure which is a pity because he was in top form before that. We support him, talking openly about it. We need to be critical here and there, but he needs to feel that nobody plays the blame game."

Pep Guardiola believes a demanding schedule can help Manchester City in the Premier League title race but one defeat will end their quest to be champions.

Guardiola's side will be three points behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand if they beat relegation-threatened Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Free-scoring City extended their winning run to nine matches by beating Bayern Munich 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.

City travel to face Bayern in the second leg next week before taking on Sheffield United in an FA Cup semi-final, followed by their game in hand against Brighton and Hove Albion before a potential title decider at home to the Gunners.

Arsenal can focus solely on the battle to win the Premier League, but City boss Guardiola thinks playing so many games can work in his side's favour.

Asked if the Gunners only being in the hunt for the Premier League title gives them an edge, the Spaniard said: "Honestly, I don't know. Sometimes when we play games every few days we are in rhythm, and that helps our focus. Sometimes when we've played one game, we've lost focus.

"When you play Saturday and then Tuesday or Wednesday, the mind of the players is [focused on football]. One game a week, you have two days off, you have to come back, get it back, you lose the feeling. The players do everything to keep going."

Guardiola also stressed that City's game in hand is by no means a banker.

He added: "The reality is we are six points behind no guarantee we will win the games in hand. The best team in world for build-up, the best team is Brighton, there is no better team in bringing it from the keeper to the last quarter. No team is better right now.

"Arsenal is at home but there is no guarantee. The reality in the table is that we are six points behind. We need to win our games, that is the reality. At the end of the games, that is when we will see the reality and the reality is that we are six points behind."

Leicester this week appointed Dean Smith as manager until the end of the season after sacking Brendan Rodgers, with the Foxes languishing in the relegation zone.

Guardiola warned the champions have no margin for error and does not feel their previous success gives them the upper hand over Arsenal.

"If we lose games, we lose competitions. It is the same tomorrow. If we lose we will not be champion, if we win we can still be there," he said. 

"We are six points behind Arsenal; a team that plays one game a week and loses very few points. They have time to analyse games and recover; it is difficult to drop points.

"We have to be there as much as possible.

"Everybody knows that if we lose it is over. That is the best way to compete. In every football action, the players are feeling that they have to win a due or win an action because if not they will lose.

"That is where you have the best [opportunity]. I have doubts about whether experience counts a lot for next time."