Pep Guardiola has warned his Manchester City players to land a knock-out blow at Anfield - or risk seeing Liverpool win another hometown decision from the match officials.
City’s wretched record of just two victories in 43 years in front of the Kop has not been helped during Guardiola’s reign by a catalogue of contentious refereeing calls that have gone Liverpool’s way.
Michael Oliver is in charge of the latest showdown between the Premier League heavyweights - and the City manager has admitted that the only thing his team can do is to play so well that they take any dodgy decisions out of the equation.
Guardiola said: “You can’t control what happens in the stadium with the referees. We can only perform better, that’s all we can do. It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last - and all we have to do is perform better.
“We have to overcome these situations. To do the big achievements, like trying to fight for four Premier Leagues in a row, which no team has done ever, ever, this is the type of challenge we have to face.
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“We have to overcome absolutely everything, otherwise it will be difficult in that case to win on Sunday.”
Oliver was in charge when City beat Liverpool 4-1 at Anfield three years ago, awarding penalties to both teams at a game played in an empty stadium due to covid restrictions.
He was also the referee when Liverpool prevailed 3-1 the previous season, when City felt they he should have pointed to the spot for Trent Alexander-Arnold ’s handball just seconds before the home side broke to take the lead through Fabinho’s strike. Last year, a controversial VAR decision ruled out a Phil Foden goal for a foul by Erling Haaland before Liverpool claimed all three points thanks to a Mo Salah winner.
Guardiola and Michael Oliver have plenty of previous at Anfield (Javier Garcia/BPI/REX)City will go top of the table if they beat Liverpool. A defeat would see them slip four points adrift of the Merseysiders.
Guardiola added: “Whatever happens, I am pretty sure we will perform well and whatever happens, we will still have many games to play.
“While knowing and accepting this is a really, really important game for the title challenge, I feel that many, many things can still happen.
“All I can handle is our performance - who we are and what we are as a team. That’s all I can deal with. If it happens, it happens, so we will see.”
Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have a mutual respect for each other (Getty Images)GUARDIOLA'S GRIEVANCES
April 2018 (Champions League): Liverpool 3 Man City 0: Mo Salah’s opening goal should have been flagged offside. City angered further when Gabriel Jesus' effort was incorrectly disallowed before Raheem Sterling was denied a penalty after being taken down by Andy Robertson.
April 2018 (Champions League): Man City 1 Liverpool 2: Guardiola was sent off at half-time after Leroy Sane’s goal was disallowed for offside, despite the ball being played into his path by Liverpool's James Milner.
November 2019 (Premier League): Liverpool 3 Man City 1: Referee Michael Oliver failed to intervene when Trent Alexander-Arnold handled the ball inside his own penalty area - and seconds later Fabinho fired Liverpool ahead.
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October 2021 (Premier League): Liverpool 2 Man City 2: Milner’s trip on Phil Foden inside the Liverpool penalty area went unpunished. Milner later avoided a second yellow card after a crude foul on Bernardo Silva and was subbed.
October 2022 (Premier League): Liverpool 1 Man City 1: Referee Anthony Taylor disallowed Foden’s goal after a VAR check for a foul by Erling Haaland after being praised for allowing more obvious offences to go unpunished.
November 2023 (Premier League): Man City 1 Liverpool 1: Manuel Akanji had a goal ruled out for a foul on Alisson despite making minimal contact with the Liverpool keeper.
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