Liverpool may be no threat to Manchester City in the title race this season, but they could derail the champions' hopes of a treble in Saturday's match at the Etihad Stadium.
That is the fear of Pep Guardiola, who still thinks highly of a Reds side struggling for consistency this season.
City need to win to at least temporarily close the gap to leaders Arsenal, while Liverpool are on the outside of the Champions League chase looking in.
That idea would have been alien to these two teams last year as they went toe-to-toe for the title, and memories of previous mammoth clashes are fresh in Guardiola's mind.
The City boss, who said his "opinion doesn't change for one season of ups and downs", explained: "For one game, absolutely, they can beat everyone, like we can beat everyone. One game is one game."
As City can focus on Arsenal alone in the league, Liverpool's situation is rather more complicated.
They are seven points behind fourth-placed Tottenham with two games in hand but also five shy of Newcastle United, who have played the same number of games in fifth.
Liverpool follow a trip to City by facing Chelsea and Arsenal next week.
"It's a super important game," said Jurgen Klopp. "That's the one thing not different to all the other years.
"We know it's a massive game, a massive week coming up. For tomorrow, they deserve all the attention – we can't think about the other games.
"It is like a Champions League week. I'm super excited."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester City – Kevin De Bruyne
While Haaland was out of action in the international break, De Bruyne was on top form for Belgium, putting Germany to the sword earlier this week with a goal and two assists. He will have a key role to play against City, who have played more through balls than any other team (64), while Liverpool are joint-fourth for the most through balls played against them (48). De Bruyne leads all players with 21 through balls.
Liverpool – Mohamed Salah
Salah loves playing against City, only scoring more than his 10 goals in these matches when facing Manchester United (12). Indeed, he has already netted in three separate matches against Guardiola's side this season, on target in each of their meetings in the Premier League, Community Shield and EFL Cup. Ian Rush was the last last Liverpool player to score in four different games against an opponent in the same campaign, netting in five clashes with Everton in 1986-87.
MATCH PREDICTION – MAN CITY WIN
Liverpool are hoping to do the league double over City for just the second time in the past 17 seasons, but that previous home-and-away success in 2015-16 included their sole victory at the Etihad Stadium in their most recent 13 league visits.
This is not a season in which they appear likely to buck a trend away from home, having earned just 12 points from 13 games on the road. Having earned 30 points at Anfield, theirs is the biggest difference between home and away points in the division.
The Reds have also failed to score in six of those away games, their most across a whole league season since eight in 2011-12, and another blank would leave them at risk of a third straight defeat without scoring in all competitions for the first time since October 2009.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Man City - 50.8 per cent
Liverpool - 22.8 per cent
Draw - 26.4 per cent
Pep Guardiola can understand United’s motivation to end City’s treble hopes
Pep Guardiola believes stopping Manchester City winning the treble could give Manchester United extra motivation in the FA Cup final.
The two neighbouring rivals clash in the Wembley showpiece for the first time on Saturday with more than a trophy and local bragging rights at stake.
For Premier League winners City victory could be the second leg of a potentially glorious treble with the final of the Champions League to come next week.
United on the other hand – as the only side to have won all three of those competitions in the same season, back in 1999 – will be anxious to stop them and protect their place in history.
City manager Guardiola said: “I could understand that. It belongs to them, that’s normal. Sport is like that.
“’That belongs to us – we don’t want anyone else to do it,’ it’s normal, that feeling. It’s completely understandable. But it’s a football game, who will be better will win.”
United boss Erik ten Hag, however, has played down the party-pooping aspect of his side’s task.
The Dutchman has enjoyed an encouraging first season at Old Trafford having won the Carabao Cup and reclaimed a Champions League spot.
“I know what is the thinking from the fans,” Ten Hag said.
“But what we want is to restore Manchester United by winning trophies. We have an opportunity to win a trophy and we don’t want to be distracted by anything.
“If it’s important for the fans then it’s important for us, so we will give everything to win the cup.”
Guardiola insists the treble is not part of his thinking yet. He has spent the week preparing to face United and will switch focus to playing Inter Milan in Istanbul next week.
“We didn’t speak once about Inter these days,” he said. “We’ll have Sunday off, and after we’ll have three or four days training.
“We’ll introduce what we believe Inter are, to try to beat them, then. We have time. Saturday to Saturday is a long time to prepare for a game.
“United and the FA Cup deserve the full attention and commitment. The players are completely aware of that.”
City could have a fully-fit squad with Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji, who all missed last week’s game at Brentford, having since returned to training.
Guardiola has confirmed second-choice goalkeeper Stefan Ortega will start, as he has in all domestic cup fixtures this season.
United are without striker Anthony Martial due to a hamstring injury and winger Antony is also a major doubt.
Gilbert expects much from young Reggae Girlz representatives in local women's league semis; lauds tenacity shown at U-20 Champs
Xavier Gilbert says the tenacity shown by Jamaica's young Reggae Girlz in their failed Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship campaign, should not be understated given the circumstances under which they entered the tournament.
Gilbert, the Head coach of local female outfit Frazsiers Whip, home of a number of the Under-20 players, to include Shaneil Buckley, Davia Richards, Tiny Seaton and Andrene Smith, among others, believes the Girlz had their task of securing an historic Women’s Under-20 World Cup qualification cut out for them, as they entered the tournament in the Dominican Republic with limited preparation and team chemistry.
As such, he praised the players and the Hugh Bradford-led coaching staff for the self-belief and fight shown when limiting heavily favoured powerhouses United States and Canada in 0-4 losses, before bouncing back for a 4-1 win over Panama to end their Group A outing on a high.
"We have to commend them for how they performed and the coaching staff for what they did with limited preparation playing against those teams (United States and Canada), who would have had way more camps than us going into that tournament," Gilbert said.
"So, we have to give them credit and we have to put things into context, it wasn't the strongest teams in some sense, but I think they showed a lot of fight. There are people who would probably be disappointed, and you can't fault them for their opinions, but I believe the Girlz must be applauded," he added.
Gilbert, who is also an assistant of the senior Reggae Girlz setup, is hoping those players can bring match fitness into play, as they are expected to be involved in Saturday's Jamaica Women’s Premier League (JWPL) first-leg semifinal action against Olympic Gardens at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence. Game time is 3:00 pm.
The winner of the two-leg tie will meet Cavaliers Women in the June 17 final.
"I am a little bit concerned about tired legs and fatigue so we will just have to manage those players as best as we can. In fact, I don't think I'll have the services of two of those players which is understated, so others will have to step up and we will see how it goes," Gilbert said.
Having already copped the knockout title, Gilbert is optimistic that they can add the League title to their accolades but is aware that they first have to get by a determined Olympic Gardens unit.
"We have played them a couple times we just have to ensure that we get them out of the game as early as possible and have them chase the game. I don't think their condition is as good as ours so will use that to our advantage," the tactician shared.
"Olympic Gardens is a team that can be up and down, if they come out with the right attitude and frame of mind then it's not going to be easy, so we have to be focused because if we are not tactically disciplined or lapse at any time, they can make our lives difficult," Gilbert noted.
Man City players will give everything to win FA Cup final – Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola has promised Manchester City fans his side will “give everything” to beat rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
The neighbouring clubs clash in the competition’s Wembley showpiece for the first time as the domestic season reaches a mouth-watering climax on Saturday.
There is plenty of incentive for City as they look to claim the second leg of the treble and move a step closer to matching United’s 1999 haul of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League trophies.
Yet even just taking the game in isolation, City manager Guardiola is well aware of how much simply beating United in a major final – after plenty of suffering at their hands in the past – would mean to supporters.
With that in mind, and his players fully focused, Guardiola has urged fans to savour the occasion.
He said: “I will ask to our fans, behave properly first and, secondly, go there to enjoy an incredible event, knowing the players will give everything to beat Man United.
“The consequences and the result, who knows it? I don’t know it. (United manager) Erik ten Hag doesn’t know it.
“It’s a football game. Enjoy the moment and enjoy next week to prepare for the (Champions League) final, to dream of seeing the team. It’s the best way.
“You have to understand anything can happen but we are going to do everything to beat United.
“I understand completely for City fans, who were in the shadow for decades behind United.
“We’ll try to do the best game as possible. So I would say have fun, enjoy the right portion of beers before the game and, that’s all. Enjoy it.”
The fact City are bidding for the treble could also give United extra motivation, however, as they not only look for a derby cup triumph but to preserve the uniqueness of their club’s own achievement 24 years ago.
“I could understand that, it belongs to them,” said Guardiola. “That’s normal. Sport is like that. It’s completely understandable.
“But it’s a football game. Who will be better will win.”
After an intensive schedule in the closing weeks of the Premier League season, City have had a full week to prepare of the fixture.
Guardiola even had time to attend a Sir Elton John concert in Manchester while some of the players went to watch Coldplay at the Etihad Stadium.
The City boss has no doubt the mental break has done his players good.
He said: “When you have these events in this city – and one of the legends, Sir Elton John – you have to use them.
“They’ve trained really good these last two training sessions. There’s a good mood in the locker room and on the pitch.
“We know what we are playing for. I don’t have to tell them. It is the final of the FA Cup against United, the chance to add another trophy. This is the mentality we have right now.”
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