Pep Guardiola issues blunt referee warning to Man City players ahead of Liverpool showdown

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.

“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.

City will go top