Guardiola and Man City in shock on the eve of the match they fear most

pep guardiola he doesn't like to go to Anfield at best.

“They scare me,” he said the Manchester City manager of Liverpool and is prolific, Mohamed Salah-led the strike force during a documentary about the wall in 2018, when Guardiola's team was comfortably the best in England.

Imagine what you are thinking now?

In the midst of the worst streak of results of his coaching career, Guardiola I would probably prefer any other match on the calendar than Liverpool far.

But that's what awaits him and his beleaguered defending champions on Sunday in the biggest game today. first division rivalry that, in its current form, threatens to be a mismatch.

“It's going to be as tough as possible,” said the City midfielder. Ilkay Gundogan said“But that sums up the current situation.”

Indeed, Liverpool and City (the league's current top two, separated by eight points) are going in opposite directions.

Liverpool not only does he lead the first division but also the 36-team Champions League. It comes from a victory over real Madridand have won 17 of their 19 matches in all competitions this season, losing just once.

City just blew a 3-0 lead from the 75th minute to draw 3-3 with Feyenoordhaving previously lost five games in a row, including a 4-0 home win against Tottenham. Guardiola had never lost so many in a row in his coaching career. The team has conceded at least two goals in each of those six games and 17 in total. The city is ranked 17th in the champions league qualification and could fall out of the Premier League top four on Sunday night.

Guardiola “We can't win games now. As a team, we always find a way to win games… but right now nothing is happening.”

So how have things fallen apart? Citythe winner of the last four first division titles, so spectacularly?

Injuries

City is very absent throughout the season Rodrithe winner of the Ballon d'Or and the holding midfielder so important when it comes to directing his attacking play and protecting the defense. Mateo Kovacic has been acting as a substitute for Rodri but returned from Croatia duty was injured last week and missed the 4-0 loss to Tottenhamas well as the Feyenoord game. None of City's four veteran centre-backs… John Stones, Rubén Días, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake He seems 100% healthy either. They were all away two weeks ago and are returning quickly, possibly prematurely. Meanwhile, star playmaker Kevin De Bruyne has not started a game since mid-September due to a nagging groin injury.

Tactical defects

However, all teams have injuries and the question is how you deal with them. GuardiolaDespite his undoubted genius as a tactician, he hasn't done very well. He has admitted that he is not willing to change his style and is sticking to a possession-based approach and intense pressing, regardless of the personnel he has available. Other coaches might change tactics depending on the circumstances, possibly playing more defensively and mainly on the counterattack, such as Carlo Ancelotti did it with Real Madrid at City in the Champions League last season. Guardiola says he can't do that. If City tries to go head to head with a dynamic Liverpool Sunday could go very badly.

Recruitment

You have to ask questions about CityThe transfer strategy and recruitment over the last two years. How can it be that Rodri is the only absolute midfielder in the squad? Kovacic and now Gundogan They are filling in that position but it is not their strong point. How can Erling Haaland Being the only true City striker in the squad? City sold Julián Álvarez, essentially Haaland's understudy, to Atlético Madrid in the offseason and did not replace him. Don't be surprised if Haaland is injured given how overloaded he is and will continue to be this season. City's recent midfield signings – Matheus Nunes, Kovacic and Gundogan – have not elaborated or addressed what should have been priorities elsewhere. Kovacic and Gundogan are both over 30, leaving City's midfield looking sluggish, especially without the ball, and tired. City also used to have goalscoring wingers like Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sané and Riyad Mahrez. In Jack Grealish, Savinho and Jeremy DokuThey have technically excellent players with hardly any performance.

small squad

This season, of all seasons, Guardiola I needed a great team. Injuries are impossible to predict, but I knew there would be more games on the schedule thanks to the expanded schedule. champions league format and the Club World Cup in it USA that will potentially extend City's campaign until mid-July. Guardiola However, he has always liked working with a small team to keep as many players as possible involved. Surely that has to change.

the charges

It's an intangible, but how much is the next verdict on the more than 100 loads against City For alleged financial breaches that weigh on the workforce? It is widely known that the result should come early 2025with point deductions and even the possibility of relegation. Futures are at stake at the club. Maybe the players are starting to feel that.