Pep expects perfection

Manchester City boss Guardiola wants his boys to go all out against Wolves tonight as they eye all remaining 12 points to clinch EPL; says table-toppers Arsenal are strong and consistent

Pep Guardiola has played down suggestions that Manchester City’s greater experience will be pivotal as his side go head to head with Arsenal for the Premier League title, saying his side must be perfect to come out on top. Defending champions City, chasing an unprecedented fourth straight English top-flight crown, are second in the table, one point behind the Gunners but with a game in hand.

Gunners can put pressure

Arsenal, on 80 points with three games to play, have a chance to put pressure on City as they host Bournemouth in the early kick-off on Saturday. City host Wolves at the Etihad later in the day, desperate to avoid a repeat of the 2-1 defeat they suffered at Molineux earlier this season.

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Pep Guardiola

Guardiola’s men, unbeaten in 31 matches in all competitions, are hot favourites to win the Premier League for the sixth time in seven seasons but the City manager is taking nothing for granted. He was asked at Friday’s press conference whether his team’s title-winning nous would prove pivotal. “I would love to think ‘yes’ but we have to prove it tomorrow against Wolves and in the next games. We know that we have to win all 12 points, otherwise it will be difficult because Arsenal are so strong, so consistent and it’s difficult to see them dropping points.”

Guardiola said top-scorer Erling Haaland was fit enough to start after coming on as a substitute against Nottingham Forest last weekend and scoring in a 2-0 win. “When everybody is fit they have to be ready. Of course I have little doubts for one or two players, but the rest the game-plan, what I want to do, I had time to think about it and see the last games from Wolves, but he’s ready,” he said.

Dias, Foden available

Guardiola confirmed that Ruben Dias and Phil Foden, who both missed the Forest match through illness, would be available, along with goalkeeper Ederson.

Liverpool’s Klopp says ‘pressure is off’ after collapse

Jurgen Klopp said the “pressure is off” after his Liverpool team dropped out of the Premier League title race, urging his men to rediscover their best form in the final few games of his Anfield reign. Liverpool have won just one of their past five league games and it would now take a miracle for them to catch Arsenal and Manchester City.

The German, 56, said he wanted his team to play with freedom in his last three matches, starting with Sunday’s home game against fifth-placed Tottenham. “The pressure is off now. That’s done. It would be really cool if we could play really, really good football again. That would be absolutely nice because obviously we have been very tense in the last weeks,” he said.

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