2 months ago
Key events Show cardinal events only Please move connected JavaScript to usage this feature
Pep Guardiola’s pre-match thoughts
double quotation markIt ever helps [winning a trophy]. But erstwhile you decorativeness 1 section you unfastened different one, and we person a chance to scope a semi-final.
Liverpool person ever been an bonzer team. The players are there, they person a top-class manager. But nan crippled we played against them present successful nan Premier League was really good. At Anfield it was tight and I’m judge this will beryllium a tight game.
[On James Trafford’s inclusion] Since I started arsenic a head I person ever played nan 2nd keeper successful nan cups. James has ever performed beautiful well.
Jamie Jackson
Pep Guardiola will not guidelines successful Rodri’s way if nan midfielder wishes to time off Manchester City for Real Madrid, though nan head believes he will enactment astatine nan nine beyond this summer.
During nan world break Rodri, whose statement expires successful June 2027, was asked astir reports that Real’s president, Florentino Pérez, wished to motion him. When answering, nan 29-year-old referenced really being a erstwhile Atlético Madrid subordinate would beryllium nary obstacle.
“There are different players who’ve taken that path,” he said. “Not directly, but complete time. For me, you can’t move down nan champion clubs successful nan world.”
Reminded of his stance that nary footballer would ever beryllium prevented from leaving City should they wish to, Guardiola said this would use to Rodri. “Absolutely. The organisation of nan nine is supra each of america – if 1 subordinate is not happy, they person to leave.”
The mini print
No replays successful nan FA Cup quarter-finals. If it needs to spell extra-time and penalties, past it needs to spell extra-time and penalties.
Andy Hunter
Arne Slot has nary regrets complete his curen of Mohamed Salah and claimed it was wholly nan forward’s decision to time off Liverpool astatine nan extremity of nan season.
The Liverpool caput coach declined to divulge why aliases erstwhile Salah decided to time off nan nine arsenic he faced nan media connected Friday for nan first clip since nan Egypt international’s announcement. Slot believes it should beryllium near to Salah to explicate nan reasons for exiting 12 months earlier his statement is owed to expire.
Team news
Pep Guardiola makes 1 alteration to his Carabao Cup-winning side. Marc Guehi, who was ineligible for nan last against Arsenal, replaces Nathan Ake. That intends James Trafford stays successful goal.
Three changes for Liverpool, whose past lucifer was a 2-1 Premier League conclusion astatine Brighton. Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones and Mo Salah travel successful for Jeremie Frimpong, Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo. Alexander Isak is backmost successful training but isn’t fresh capable to make nan matchday squad.
Man City (4-2-3-1) Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rodri, Bernardo Silva; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.
Subs: Donnarumma, Reijnders, Ake, Marmoush, Kovacic, Gonzalez, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Foden.
Liverpool (possible 4-1-3-2) Mamardashvili; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch; Szoboszlai, Jones, Wirtz; Salah, Ekitike.
Subs: Woodman, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Gakpo, Robertson, Frimpong, Nyoni, Morrison, Ngumoha.
Referee Michael Oliver.
Andy Hunter
There were much important reasons for Jürgen Klopp’s return to Liverpool past Saturday, but it was apposite his beingness reminded Anfield of nan unshakable enslaved and belief they erstwhile shared, nan joyousness his shot brought. Those pillars of Klopp’s reign are weakening nether Arne Slot and April whitethorn find whether they are near opinionated astatine all.
Two cup quarter-finals successful succession should awesome a play connected nan correct way for Liverpool; showpiece occasions specified arsenic Manchester City successful nan FA Cup connected Saturday and Paris Saint-Germain successful nan Champions League connected Wednesday whetting nan appetite for what May could person successful store.
Preamble
It’s Manchester City v Liverpool successful nan FA Cup quarter-finals, and you want a preamble?
Okay, okay. This is nan necktie of nan round, followed by daylight, past twilight, past much daylight. The rivalry betwixt City and Liverpool, which peaked during immoderate bonzer matches and unprecedented title races betwixt 2018 and 2022, remains 1 of nan astir vivid successful world football.
In 1 sense, nan stakes are moreover higher now than they would person been successful an FA Cup quarter-final a fewer years ago, because there’s a very bully chance that, for nan first clip successful years, neither of these clubs will triumph either nan Premier League aliases nan Champions League.
City person nan Carabao Cup successful their backmost pocket, having produced arguably their champion capacity of nan play to hit Arsenal a fortnight ago, and are still scrapping successful nan league. Liverpool person a Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain to travel successful nan week.
Even so, this title is nan champion chance of a(nother) trophy for some Pep Guardiola and nan under-pressure Arne Slot. Whichever squad loses coming will consciousness beautiful quiet – and not only because they’ve been beaten by 1 of their top rivals.
Kick disconnected 12.45pm.
