Pep Guardiola has urged his Manchester City players to rise to the challenge of facing Liverpool at Anfield, insisting that big games demand big personalities.
City head to Merseyside on Sunday, nine points behind leaders Arsenal, buoyed by their midweek Carabao Cup semi-final victory over Newcastle which booked a 22nd Wembley appearance under Guardiola.
The Spaniard knows the scale of the task ahead, with City’s last win at Anfield coming in February 2021, but believes the fixture offers the perfect stage to showcase the team’s progress. ‘It’s not just Anfield,’ Guardiola explained.
‘All big stages and big games need big personalities. At top clubs, the skills are there, but what defines the good players and good teams is how you behave in those moments.’
Guardiola admitted his side are still developing, despite competing strongly across all four competitions this season. With the Champions League knockout rounds, a Carabao Cup final, and an FA Cup tie still to come, he sees signs of growth but insists City are not yet the finished article.
‘Not yet. At the very top level, we’re not consistent enough. But we’re better than last season, and we’re still there fighting. Fourteen games in the Premier League is an eternity, everything can happen.’
