'If the crowd sway the ref, we must simply perform better for the win'

PEP Guardiola doesn't want to focus on anything but his own City side this weekend - telling his players that if the Liverpool crowd at Anfield begin to influence the referee, they must simply perform better to try and win.

- JOE BRAY

The build-up to City's title showdown with Liverpool today has been dominated by Trent Alexander-Arnold's claim that their successes 'mean more' than City's due to the 'financial situations' of the side.

While Guardiola opted to remain silent on YOU'LL NEVER WALK the comments, Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias hit back, with  Jurgen Klopp defending his player.

Guardiola insisted that criticism of City is normal, saying he or his players cannot control what others think of the club.

"We are in a world that the people have an opinion," he said.

"What the right-back from Liverpool has said, a lot of people think.