Pep Guardiola and Arne Slot’s Liverpool and Manchester City face off at the Etihad, aiming to close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal, whose recent draw offers fresh hope in a fiercely contested title race.
According to this reporting, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, in his 1,000th game as a manager, described meeting Liverpool as “the destiny of the universe,” acknowledging the shared domination that has seen the two clubs claim the last eight Premier League titles.
The clash at Etihad Stadium on Sunday (16:30 GMT) is set to heavily shape this season’s title destiny, with both superpowers now part of a chasing pack led by Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners currently sit atop the table, but a stoppage-time equaliser at Sunderland that saw them drop two points has “ajar[red]” the door for City and Liverpool. Arsenal’s late concession “has upped the ante even further” for the match, with City looking to close the gap.
Guardiola, who has a tough record against Liverpool (winning only five of 18 Premier League meetings), remains focused on the chase. He said: “Always you expect that you can be better and they will drop points.
All we can do is win our games and get closer.” Despite Arsenal’s strong start, Guardiola cautioned: “Nobody wins the title in early November. You can lose it – but nobody wins it.”
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot echoed the sentiment of a long season ahead: “At the moment, it’s not about looking at the league table. It’s just trying to win as many games as you can and give yourself the best position you can.”
The game features a pivotal personal duel: the irresistible force, Erling Haaland, meets the immovable object, Virgil van Dijk. Haaland, despite his remarkable form, is still seeking his first win against Van Dijk since joining City in 2022.
Expert Chris Sutton believes personal pride will fuel the confrontation, saying: “Van Dijk will have that kind of pride where he will be determined to get the better of Haaland…”