Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp paid a glowing tribute to Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola ahead of what could be the pair’s final meeting, anointing him the best manager he has ever seen.

The pair have shared many memorable battles over the past decade, first in the Bundesliga and then at the vanguard of the Premier League, and face one last top-of-the-table clash at Anfield.

With Klopp leaving Merseyside at the end of the season, only the possibility of a meeting in the latter stages of the FA Cup could now add another chapter, leaving the German to reflect on their long battle for supremacy.

While Liverpool have a slender one-point lead going into the match and Klopp boasts a marginally superior head-to-head record in their 29 contests together, with 12 wins versus 11, he happily places the former Barcelona man as peerless in the modern game.

“Pep is the best manager in the world. I have a really good life being not even close to that,” he said.

“I don’t know how could I judge managers from the past but in my lifetime he’s the outstanding manager. I see excellence when I face it and Pep is definitely that.

“I was never frustrated, I knew round about 3,000 footballers who were better than me and I still loved the game; the others who were better than me, I didn’t know them.

“I just got told I have a positive record against Pep… I have no clue how that happened to be honest.

“It made me a better manager trying to find solutions. I know I’m quite good at what I’m doing as well, I don’t want to sound like, ‘Oh my God, I’m just happy to be here’, but you ask me about the best: he’s the best. Bam.”

While lavish with his praise for Guardiola, Klopp did take issue with any negative characterisation of the duo’s relationship, insisting they were bound by similarities rather than differences.

“I don’t feel it’s a rivalry, but I understand why you call it that,” he said.

“There’s no rivalry. We are both really competitive, we both want to win football games and we are both blessed with really good players in our teams.

“If we meet in the future it will be full of respect. We have not had the opportunity to meet each other more often, but we would have a lot to talk about. Definitely.

“On Sunday it’s not about me having that opportunity (to beat him) for the last time – it’s not sure anyway, maybe in the FA Cup we could meet again. It’s a big game. City games always were, always will be probably.”

Klopp rejected the notion that the match was effectively a title decider, with 10 more games still to play and Arsenal also firmly in the trophy hunt, but could not hide its significance.

“I don’t know who is playing on the weekend in the other leagues but it’s probably the game of the weekend and being able to be part of that is massive.

“Title race decider? I don’t know who thought that up. It’s really early, we could go through all the possible scenarios.

“Whatever the result, I don’t think anybody should open the bottles of champagne.”

Liverpool have a major doubt over defender Ibrahima Konate after he came off injured in the second half of Thursday’s 5-1 Europa League win at Sparta Prague, meaning Jarell Quansah could get the biggest start of his career alongside Virgil van Dijk.

Klopp could also welcome Mohammed Salah back to his starting XI, with the Egypt forward making a timely return from the bench in midweek.

Ange Postecoglou has insisted Champions League qualification is not the equivalent of a Willy Wonka golden ticket and will be meaningless unless Tottenham can build on it this summer.

Spurs travel to Aston Villa on Sunday with both clubs vying for fourth spot, which will guarantee a place in Europe’s elite competition.

Fifth could also secure Champions League football, but Postecoglou – without naming them – cited Manchester United and Newcastle as examples of teams who have failed to kick on after finishing in the top four last season.

“There are a couple of teams who got into the Champions League this year from last year, had a good season. Does that guarantee anything the following season? No,” Postecoglou stated.

“What’s more important is that come the end of this year, we’ve got a team that’s going to challenge the following year and keep growing. Right now, the most important thing is us, our identity and our football.

“It’s not a Willy Wonka golden ticket, you know? It just gets you a year in the Champions League, but if you don’t build on that or grow from that, it is meaningless, I think anyway, because we’re not in it for participation, we’re in it to win things.

“Yes, if we make Champions League this year it means we’ve progressed from last year, but has our football progressed?

“Are we a better team? Are we a stronger team? Are we going to improve in the summer to make sure that next year we are going to be even better?

“That’s much more important to me. My target this year has always been to create a team that I hope will lay strong foundations for moving forward being a team that can win things. That’s where it begins and ends.

“Logically as you say, if we’ve improved and make Champions League, it means we’ve had a decent year. But that isn’t going to give me any comfort if we’re not playing the football that I want to play and we haven’t improved in the off-season to make sure we’re ready for the next step.”

Tottenham, who will have Pedro Porro back for the Villa Park trip but remain without Richarlison (knee), are also an example of a club who failed to progress after Champions League qualification in 2022.

Postecoglou’s predecessor Antonio Conte left 10 months after he secured fourth spot with Spurs, then going on to finish outside of the European spots last season.

It resulted in fan unrest before Postecoglou’s arrival united the fanbase, but supporters have expressed their frustration this week following changes to season ticket prices.

Spurs will increase season tickets prices by six per cent next season and, from the 2025-26 season, there will be no new senior concession season tickets available.

Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust were “dismayed” by the six per cent increase and labelled the changes to senior concessions as “unacceptable”, while a new fans group called Save Our Seniors has been created in an effort to co-ordinate a campaign to make the club reverse its decision.

Postecoglou said: “Supporters are the lifeblood of any football club and I am not going to try to dictate how they feel.

“They have a voice, they have a strong voice and avenues to express their opinions. I will always abide by that and accept that.”

Erik ten Hag believes he may have won up to 75 of his first 100 matches as Manchester United boss was it not for an injury list he claims no team would be able to cope with.

This has been a poor second season in the hotseat for the under-pressure Dutchman, who suffered a 3-1 defeat at rivals Manchester City last weekend as he brought up a century of matches in charge.

Ten Hag had to field a patched-up team against the Premier League champions and absentee-hit United will again be without a host of first-team players for Saturday’s clash with embattled Everton.

Marcus Rashford and Jonny Evans have been passed fit after coming off in the Manchester derby, but Omari Forson has joined their lengthy list of injuries ahead of the weekend.

“That’s the good news, (Rashford and Evans) recovered after the derby, so they are available,” boss Ten Hag said.

“For the rest it is the same squad apart from Omari Forson. He dropped out. He has an injury.

“Mason Mount, I think he is in a good spell now and he will return shortly. I think after the international break.

“For next week, some players are planning to return hopefully.

“When the process will continue like it is now Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka I expect them to be available for our game against Liverpool. (Rasmus) Hojlund similar, yeah.”

Defeat in next weekend’s FA Cup quarter-final clash against rivals Liverpool will end United’s last remaining route to silverware this term.

Ten Hag won the Carabao Cup in his first campaign and led the side to third in the Premier League – a far cry from their current place in sixth, 11 points off fourth-placed Aston Villa with 11 games to go.

Injuries have played a key role in this season’s drop-off and without such issues the Dutchman believes he would have won far more than 61 of his first 100 matches at the helm.

“It tells that we are in the right direction,” Ten Hag said of his win ratio.

“So, imagine if we had many more players available, not so many setbacks in injuries, it could have been easily 70 or 75 wins and that tells the bright future of this team when players are available.

“Because if you compare it, you compare it with other managers or other teams who were in a build-up stage, or with previous managers in this big club, then you can see there is a bright future.

“Also, I think it’s a good balance in ages in this squad, where young players, middle-aged players, experienced players together.

“Imagine when they are available. As I said, we could have easily win from 100 games 75 and that’s a big difference I think with the stats you mentioned.”

Long-term absentees Lisandro Martinez, Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are others sidelined right now, unbalancing a side clearly lacking strength in depth.

“No team can deal with this, with so many injuries,” Ten Hag added. “I think we are playing to maximum levels if you take in the availability of the players.

“So, when you miss so many key players over many parts of the season, then obviously the results, the performances will not be (the same as) when the players are available.

“We have seen when the players were available like in January and February our performances were very good.

“And I think from that moment when the players were not even fit, they could have done even better when they are 100 per cent fit in that moment but they were not.”

Mikel Arteta said it was a great honour to be awarded the Premier League’s manager of the month award for February.

The Arsenal boss led his side to five straight league wins last month.

He credited the group effort of his players and staff during a successful period in north London.

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Brentford on Saturday, Arteta said: “It’s a great honour in this league to get recognised in this way so I want to say thank you to the team and the staff for always being supportive and making this happen.”

Out-of-favour goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale will return to the XI because first-choice David Raya is not eligible to face his parent club.

Arteta, who has no regrets about signing Ramsdale for a reported fee of £30million in 2021, highlighted their personal bond.

“The connection on a personal level goes two ways pretty much and I’m really happy that we made the call as a club to sign him,” he added.

“It was very controversial to start with but we wanted to change his career in a powerful way and we’re really happy.”

Arsenal have scored 21 goals across their last four wins against Sheffield United, Newcastle, Burnley and West Ham.

The Spanish boss hailed his side’s attacking form in those games, also highlighting their defensive performances in that time in which they conceded just once.

Arsenal’s form has put them two points off the top the of the table and if they continue their winning form and Manchester City draw with Liverpool on Sunday then they will find themselves in first place.

“It’s great because obviously it shows the quality and the way that the team is showing,” Arteta said.

“It shows the way we’re scoring the goals as well, not only the manner but the personnel as well which is a really positive thing to see.

“Defensively we’re conceding very little too so those two things together are powerful to get results, consistency and we want more.”

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is relishing his forthcoming personal challenge with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.

The two title rivals meet at Anfield on Sunday in the biggest game of the season so far when the irresistible force of the Norway striker will come up against the immovable object which is Van Dijk.

Both players are currently in peak form and their duel will be a game within the game but the Dutchman knows it will not just be the result of their individual battle which will determine the outcome.

“It’s obviously going to be a massive game for both sides and I’m really looking forward to the challenge of facing the treble winners,” he told the PA news agency.

“It’s always good to come up against one of the best and most in-form strikers in the world.

“He is a natural goalscorer, he has proven it and his numbers are speaking for themselves so it will be a tough afternoon but it’s a battle I am looking forward to.”

Asked if Haaland, who has scored three times in six appearances for City against Liverpool – well down on his average of almost a goal a game – has caused him problems in the past Van Dijk added: “Of course.

“I’ve caused him problems, he’s caused me problems – that’s how it works. These battles are always tough.

“But like I said I think he is looking forward to it and I’m looking forward to it.”

While the title race is a long way from being decided on Sunday a win for Liverpool would put them four points ahead of City with 10 matches remaining.

Liverpool’s record at Anfield against them is good as they have lost just once – two years ago – since 2003, winning 13 of the last 20 fixtures on home soil.

However, Van Dijk insists nothing should be read into the outcome of this weekend’s game.

“There’s too long to go. Obviously it is a massive game, you can’t deny that,” he added.

“There will be a lot of eyes on it but we have one aim and that’s to try to win the game.

“We are at home and we are looking forward to the big challenge but the big opportunity as well.

“We want to get a good result. That’s the only thing we will try and do, not going out there to make statements.

“But we know we are going to face a team which is very good and it will be tough.”

Liverpool’s 5-1 first-leg win over Sparta Prague in the Czech capital means they already have one foot in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

That is a boost ahead of eight days which begin at home to City and finish at Manchester United in the FA Cup, with the return leg against Sparta in between but now less of a complication than it may have been.

Liverpool host Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday in the latest instalment of a rivalry that has become one of the most intense in English football in recent years.

Here, the PA news agency looks back at some memorable encounters between the two clubs.

City and Liverpool were engaged in a ferocious title battle in 2018-19 in which the standards set by both reached new heights. After a thrilling run-in, it was Pep Guardiola’s side who eventually came out on top by a just single point – an outcome which emphasised the importance of their win over the Reds in January. Goals from Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane either side of a Roberto Firmino brace were the telling statistics, but the most critical moment proved to be a goal-line clearance by John Stones as the City defender swept the ball away with just 1.12cm to spare.

A pulsating early-season encounter that justified the hype the fixture has come to attract under the era-defining stewardships of Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and Guardiola at City. All the key action came in the second half as Sadio Mane swept Liverpool ahead before Phil Foden levelled with a fine strike. Mohamed Salah produced a moment of magic to weave through the box and restore the hosts’ lead but Kevin De Bruyne earned a draw with a long-range effort.

The second half of the 2017-18 campaign was when Liverpool really began to show their teeth under Klopp and proved they were an improving force that could maybe one day compete with City. They did not derail City’s title charge at Anfield, with Guardiola’s men going on to break the 100-point barrier, but gave them a bloody nose by inflicting their first defeat of the season. Sane cancelled out Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s early strike but three goals in nine minutes early in the second half from Roberto Firmino, Mane and Salah won it for Liverpool – despite late replies from Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan.

Liverpool finally ended their long wait for a Premier League title in 2019-20 and it became clear that momentum was in their favour as they edged out City on a tense afternoon at Anfield. A Fabinho piledriver gave the hosts an early lead as City raged about a penalty not given at the other end, seconds previously. Salah compounded City’s frustrations by heading a second soon after and Mane grabbed a third but Silva kept City in the contest and Guardiola was furious when another penalty appeal was dismissed.

As another tight title race between the pair remained in the balance, the rivals were forced to settle for a draw at the Etihad Stadium. City created the most chances and twice led through De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus but Liverpool hit back each time with Diogo Jota and Mane on target. City were frustrated as Raheem Sterling had a goal ruled out in a tight VAR call and Riyad Mahrez hit the post but Guardiola’s men ultimately had the last laugh, again taking the title by a point.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has told Anthony Gordon his England dream will take care of itself if he maintains his scintillating form at club level.

The 23-year-old, who starred in the under-21s’ European Championship success last summer, scored his 10th goal of the season in Saturday’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Wolves to underline the progression he has made since his £45million switch from Everton in January 2023.

Gordon’s efforts have inevitably seen his name thrown into the conversation surrounding Gareth Southgate’s squad for this month’s friendlies against Brazil and Belgium and, beyond that, the Euro 2024 finals.

Asked how close he was to the senior squad, club boss Howe said: “I don’t know how close he is – that’s for Gareth to talk about, not me. But his form this season has been consistent and I think that is what Gareth will be looking for, consistent performances above a certain level.

“He will be looking for goals and assists from his wingers, and he’s delivered that as well. I think he’s in a really good place.

“I would say to him, don’t focus on England, focus on your club form. Keep doing the right things with us and everything else will take care of itself.

“Anthony has done that and I don’t think he’s been distracted at any time. He’s kept looking at the short term and is very motivated to play every minute of every game, which I love about him. His career is in a good place.”

Gordon arrived on Tyneside after a difficult end to his spell at Goodison Park with fans accusing him of forcing his way out of the club he had joined as a schoolboy, and found his initial months in the North East testing.

However, Howe is convinced he has learned from those experiences – and that of becoming a father – as he has matured on and off the pitch.

The head coach said: “For someone so young, he has had so many really good experiences – and that is not always positive experiences. His experience at Everton will definitely have strengthened him.

“That was difficult for him, and it was difficult year last year. He has left Liverpool, and that is a big thing for someone so young. He has just had a baby, and anyone who goes through that experience as a young man knows what effect that can have on your life and psychology.

“He has some really good things in his life which keep him stable, motivated to do well and fingers crossed, he can continue his form.”

Gordon will hope to maintain that form at Chelsea on Monday evening, a game for which Lewis Hall – who Howe revealed is close to meeting the criteria to make his £28m switch to Newcastle permanent – is ineligible under the terms of his loan agreement.

Full-back Kieran Trippier will miss out with a calf injury suffered against Wolves which is likely to sideline him for two games and rule him out of England duty.

Former Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel does not believe Sunday’s table-topping encounter with Manchester City at Anfield will decide the outcome of the Premier League title.

In what will be the biggest game of the season so far, the two best teams of recent years go head-to-head in what could be another volatile meeting on Merseyside.

Home advantage has played a significant role for Liverpool as they have lost just once – three years ago – to City since 2003, while in the last 50 meetings between the clubs at Anfield the Reds have suffered just three defeats.

But with Arsenal, who have to go to the Etihad Stadium at the end of the month, the other horse in the title race and only two points separating the three clubs, Skrtel believes it would be wrong to crown the champions on the back of Sunday’s result.

“It is always a big game against City, especially the last few seasons when they competed with Liverpool for the championship, but I don’t think it will be decisive as there are too many games to play,” he told the PA news agency.

“In the Premier League you can drop points anywhere and Arsenal are there also.

“I’m not going to predict how it will finish but I hope Liverpool can beat City and make a step towards winning the league.”

Recent matches at Anfield have been marred by off-field problems as, with tensions running high, on a couple of occasions City’s coach has sustained damage from objects thrown as the bus made its way through thousands of fans lining the streets.

There is equally as much at stake for both title challengers this weekend but Skrtel, who scored more goals against City (four) than any other English club and lost just four of his 17 appearances against them, believes supporters can make a real difference inside the stadium.

“These kind of games against City, United, Arsenal or Chelsea, the atmosphere is always special,” said the Slovakian, who is playing in the Liverpool Legends game against their Ajax counterparts on March 23 at Anfield.

“This time the fans will be more ready and more angry and will create the atmosphere that players love.

“It is mostly about the players on the pitch but the fans, who have done it already, can provide a boost for the team and push them forward.”

Liverpool are chasing an unprecedented quadruple against the backdrop of an injury crisis in Jurgen Klopp’s final season as manager.

While the German will be irreplaceable Skrtel believes he has left solid foundations for his successor.

“He delivered the trophies, he allowed the fans to believe Liverpool could be the best team in the world again and that’s very important,” he said.

“It’s not going to be easy to replace him but I think it is going to be a little bit easier for the new manager because if you see the current squad and the youngsters coming in the team is ready to compete.”

Skrtel’s former Liverpool team-mate Xabi Alonso remains the favourite to replace Klopp, although he is also reportedly being targeted by Bayern Munich.

“The job Xabi is doing at Bayer Leverkusen is massive and he could be a good replacement,” he said.

“But after the season he is having – he can win the league – he will have more clubs coming after him.

“Xabi was at Liverpool and he loves the club and I would be happy if it were him.”

:: Tickets for the Liverpool Legends game are available from liverpoolfc.com/tickets. Proceeds go to the LFC Foundation which develops and supports projects tackling a range of social issues including poor educational outcomes, youth unemployment and young people becoming involved in gangs and crime.

What the papers say

Chelsea have joined the race for English defender Archie Brown at Belgian club Gent. The Sun, via HITC, reports a number of Premier League clubs, Juventus and AC Milan are watching the 21-year-old, who left Derby three years ago in search of first-team football.

Manchester United have opened talks on a contract extension with Kobbie Mainoo, according to the Manchester Evening News. The England Under-19 international midfielder, 18, has impressed since forcing his way into the first team at Old Trafford.

Mason Greenwood will be stopped from joining United on a pre-season tour of the United States by club bosses, reports the Daily Star. The English forward, 22, is currently on loan in Spain with Getafe.

Defender Ben White, 26, is the next player expected to sign a new deal at Arsenal. The Sun says the new deal could be signed this month after fellow defender Takehiro Tomiyasu agreed a fresh contract.

Social media round-upPlayers to watch

Oleksandr Zinchenko: Newcastle and Bayern Munich are keen on Arsenal’s 27-year-old Ukraine international, according to Football Transfers.

Crysencio Summerville: Leeds’ Dutch Under-21 international, 22, is high on Chelsea’s list in their search for a winger, reports Teamtalk.

Leicester are set to be charged by the Premier League over alleged breaches of its financial regulations, the PA news agency understands.

The club could be charged as early as next week.

Clubs are not permitted to exceed losses of £105million over the assessment period ending 2022-23 under the league’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR).

The Foxes, who are currently top of the Championship, are set to publish audited accounts covering last season at some point this month and were required to also submit these to the Premier League.

Leicester’s relegation last May meant they had lost their Premier League share prior to the league’s annual general meeting last June. They were therefore not subject to the new standard directions for PSR agreed at that meeting. It was under those standard directions that PSR complaints were laid against Everton and Nottingham Forest in January.

The aim of the standard directions is for all complaint processes to be finished, inclusive of appeal outcomes, before June 1, when promoted teams gain their Premier League shares.

However, even under the old rules, the Premier League could push for an expedited hearing to have Leicester’s case concluded before the end of this season should they be charged, as they did in March last year after Everton were charged with a PSR breach concerning the period ending 2021-22.

The independent commission in that case rejected the Premier League’s request, deciding it would be “unrealistic” to expect the proceedings and any appeal to be determined in the current season.

It further stated that to compel Everton to attempt to meet such a timetable would run the risk of procedural unfairness. The case was ultimately heard last October, with the initial 10-point sanction handed down the following month.

If the commission reached a similar decision regarding Leicester, it would mean the club could seal promotion back to the Premier League and only be sanctioned once in the top flight.

Any club relegated from the Premier League from this season onwards will be subject to the standard directions signed off last June.

Leicester recorded losses of £92.5million for the year ending May 31, 2022.

The EFL’s independent club financial reporting unit (CFRU) concluded in November that Leicester were forecasting to breach EFL Profitability and Sustainability (P&S) loss limits for the three-year period ending with financial year 2023-24.

The CFRU determined the club should submit a business plan to demonstrate how it planned to comply with P&S rules, but an independent panel found Leicester was under no obligation to submit and agree to a business plan.

The club issued a statement on Wednesday welcoming the panel finding, and added: “Leicester City confirms it is in discussions with the football authorities regarding its profitability and sustainability calculations.

“Notwithstanding the CFRP’s decision, the club remains committed to seeking an appropriate overall outcome in this matter.”

Manuel Akanji feels it is about time Manchester City put an end to their Anfield hoodoo.

The champions travel to Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday in a crucial clash at the top of the table.

Second-placed City are widely considered the favourites for the title but their record at the home of the Reds is notoriously poor.

City have won just once at Anfield in front of a crowd since 1981, when Nicolas Anelka scored a double 21 years ago.

They did triumph there 4-1 behind closed doors in 2021 but the atmosphere will be completely different this weekend.

City defender Akanji said: “It definitely will be massive. The winner will go to the top of the league. I don’t want to talk about the title race but it would be a big win for us.

“We haven’t done the best there in the past – but why not change it this weekend?

“We know how hard it is but we’ll go there and try to get the three points like we always do.

“I’ve only played there once – we lost there 1-0 – but it’s a really good stadium, the atmosphere is great and the team is one of the best and that’s what makes it difficult.

“But in the end we just focus on us, even if the crowd is pushing them. If we put on the type of performance we want then I think we can win the game.”

Akanji was on target as holders City rubber-stamped their place in the Champions League quarter-finals for a seventh successive season with a routine 3-1 victory over FC Copenhagen on Wednesday.

The Switzerland international opened the scoring at the Etihad Stadium with a fine volley on five minutes and Julian Alvarez quickly doubled the lead with help of a goalkeeping error.

Former Southampton player Mohamed Elyounoussi pulled one back but Erling Haaland wrapped up a 6-2 aggregate triumph with his 29th goal of the season.

Manager Pep Guardiola said his side played with the belief they could win the competition again but Akanji did not want to look too far ahead.

Akanji said: “I hope so – that’s what we play for, to win it – but we’re into the quarter-finals now and we’ll see.

“Right now it looks good but it doesn’t mean it will be good for the rest of the tournament. There are still a lot of games ahead. There are important games in England now, with Liverpool and then the FA Cup quarter-final. Then more league games.

“So we focus on those first and see who we get in the next round.”

March is a key month for City with a home clash against Arsenal, the other side in the title picture, also to come.

Akanji said: “Our next two league games are pretty big. I can’t say they are decisive for the league but will be important for how the rest of the season goes.”

Erling Haaland has hit back at a Manchester City dig from Trent Alexander-Arnold by pointing out the Liverpool man has not won the treble.

A war of words has broken out ahead of Sunday’s crunch title clash between Premier League leaders Liverpool and Haaland’s City at Anfield after Alexander-Arnold suggested winning trophies means more to the Merseyside club.

“Looking back on this era, although they’ve won more titles than us and have probably been more successful, our trophies will mean more to us and our fanbase because of the situations at both clubs financially,” the Liverpool defender told FourFourTwo.

Haaland, who scored 52 goals as City won a glorious treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup last season and has added another 29 this term, responded in blunt fashion.

The Norway striker told Sky Sports News: “If he wants to say that, OK. I’ve been here one year and I won the treble and it was quite a nice feeling.

“I don’t think he knows exactly this feeling. So, that’s what I felt last season. It was quite nice.

“They can talk as much as they want, or he can talk as much as he wants. I don’t know why he does that but I don’t mind.”

Alexander-Arnold, who described City as a “machine that’s built to win” is set to miss the game with a knee injury.

City trail Liverpool by a point ahead of the eagerly-anticipated contest, after which both sides will have 10 league games remaining.

“It’s going to be a great game,” said Haaland. “Liverpool are top of the league, so they’ve been the best this season so far. So we have to try and play at our best.

“I think City-Liverpool is a really special game in general, so it’s going to be a special game and it’s going to be a really important game.”

March is a big month in terms of the title race with City also facing Arsenal, the other side in contention, in just over three weeks’ time.

Haaland recognises the difficulties ahead but is confident the champions will rise to the challenge.

The 23-year-old said: “As last year, I think we were in a quite interesting title race. Maybe someone even put us a bit away from the title race at one point.

“So, yes, it’s a nice thing. I think that’s also what’s so nice about the Premier League, that there’s so many who are so good.

“I think there’s so many who can win the Premier League and the last years it’s been Manchester City, and we’re going to try and do it again. It’s not going to be easy, but we are good.”

Mauricio Pochettino said he would have joined in with jeering Chelsea fans who booed his team against Brentford had he been a supporter, as he confirmed three more of his players have succumbed to injury and illness.

The Argentinian was without eight squad members for Saturday’s 2-2 draw at the Gtech Stadium, when away fans turned on their own team after they threw away a first-half lead and needed a late Axel Disasi goal to avoid an 11th Premier League loss of the season.

Now he faces also being without Ben Chilwell, who has been sent for specialist treatment on a knee problem, and Levi Colwill, who has an injured toe, for Monday’s game against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge.

Of greatest concern to Pochettino however will be the fitness of Conor Gallagher, one of his most consistent performers this season, who has not trained since the Brentford game and is suffering from a virus.

“He’s not here the last three days,” said Pochettino of the 24-year-old. “We’ll see if Saturday or tomorrow he has the possibility to train.

“The problem with these situations is you lose weight and energy is down, and you need time to recover. We need to assess him in the next few days.”

Pochettino has consistently pointed to the impact that injuries have had on his team’s progress since he took charge in July.

He has rarely enjoyed an absentee list of fewer than seven players, and is likely to be without as many as 10 for the visit of Eddie Howe’s side.

One of the more frustrating aspects for the 52-year-old has been recurring injuries, with Chilwell, Reece James, Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lavia all spending more than one extended spell on the sidelines, while Wesley Fofana is expected to miss the entire season.

Gallagher’s absence is likely to be particularly felt as he has played in an influential role in almost every game since the manager took charge.

Pochettino said he empathised with fans who booed his side against Brentford, but countered that circumstances have ultimately put paid to any chance of success this season.

“We need our fans,” he said. “I hope they will be behind us on Monday. It’s so, so important to our players.

“But we need to accept that it’s football. They are frustrated. Maybe if I was a fan in the stand I would behave the same way as them.

“If you want to be consistent and you want to fight for big things, you need to be consistent. How? With the full squad, keeping the ideas, improving in training, with the capacity to train every single day.

“When that’s not there, we can manage circumstance, but in the end, we are only managing circumstance. We will never have the capacity to have the full squad to compete between each other.

“When you suffer too many negative things, like now we lose three players after Saturday (injured), that is not about the quality of the coaching staff, or the capacity to play more offensive or defensive. It’s about the circumstances.

“People want to understand? Perfect. They don’t want to understand, what can we do?”

Mikel Arteta believes “everything clicked” at Arsenal following their winter training camp in Dubai.

Since the Gunners’ week-long trip to the United Arab Emirates in January they have gone on a run of seven straight Premier League victories, scoring 31 goals in the process.

The camp came after Arsenal had suffered successive league defeats to West Ham and Fulham before being knocked out of the FA Cup by title rivals Liverpool.

The north Londoners now sit two points off the top of the Premier League table heading into their final 11 fixtures.

Speaking ahead of the clash with Brentford at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, Arteta said: “It was necessary (the camp).

“We had a tough period before where we played so many games and had some defeats. It was necessary to help us keep improving and demanding of ourselves, especially with the weather and some of the things we had time to work on.

“Everything clicked, we won, we played good and that helps.

“It was really good and it came at the perfect time for us. We built the chemistry around the place. The amount of time we spent together – we enjoyed the time on the field and off the field. It was a really positive trip.”

Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale will return to the starting XI in place of David Raya who is ineligible for the game against his parent club.

Arteta talked up the mentality of the out-of-favour England international, calling for him to take his opportunity at the weekend.

“He’s trained very well and he’s desperate to play, like all of the other boys, and it will be a great day for him on Saturday,” Arteta said.

“He has been brilliant, he’s really supportive and pushes in training. It’s a joy to have two top goalkeepers.

“One of the toughest things is dealing with players who don’t have the amount of time (on the pitch) which they deserve.

“We have an unbelievable group of players and we try to be straight with them and explain to them by giving them the support.

“When they get the opportunity at the end they try to contribute in the best possible way and that’s what Aaron will do.”

Kai Havertz is enjoying his best spell in an Arsenal shirt since his big-money summer move from Chelsea and Arteta lauded the versatile forward, who has scored in his last three matches.

“It says a lot about his character and how he’s dealt with those question marks,” Arteta said of the German. “He has a good attitude all the time when things don’t go well in certain phases of the game.

“He continues to work hard. We can see his mentality, his intelligence on the pitch and the personality he has. We’re very happy with him.

“His ability to occupy space and aggression in high press is very good. Those are attributes which are very good for us.”

Chelsea have announced pre-tax losses of £90.1million in the 12 months up to June 2023, their first full year under the ownership of Todd Boehly’s Clearlake Capital consortium.

The figure, an improvement on the previous years’ loss of £121.4m, was also listed in the accounts filed for holding company Blueco, via which Boehly purchased the club from former owner Roman Abramovich in May 2022.

Blueco itself, which also owns French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, recorded losses of £653m from its founding in March 2022 up to June 2023.

Chelsea’s turnover is up from £481.3m in 2021/22 to £512.5m, thanks in part to player sales as the club has offloaded a substantial number of its more experienced squad members since Clearlake took ownership.

Broadcasting revenue has been hit by the team’s failure to qualify for European competition last season, dropping by £9.1m to £255.9m.

Premier League rules state a club can have made a loss no greater than £105m over a three-year period, meaning there are likely to be further player sales required in the coming months in order to remain within regulations, particularly with qualification for Europe via their league position looking unlikely this campaign.