Guardiola’s tactics will solve City’s woes – Arne Slot

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has expressed confidence in Pep Guardiola’s ability to resolve Manchester City’s ongoing issues but remains determined to deepen their woes during Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash. 

Slot’s impressive debut season at Anfield continued with a commanding 2-0 victory over Real Madrid on Wednesday, propelling Liverpool to the top of their Champions League group.

The Reds are also dominating the Premier League, holding an eight-point lead over City.

Manchester City, on the other hand, are enduring their worst run under Guardiola, suffering five consecutive defeats.

Their midweek collapse from 3-0 up to a 3-3 draw with Feyenoord compounded their struggles, with the absence of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, sidelined for the season due to a knee injury, proving to be a major setback.

While Slot is confident Guardiola will eventually steer City back on course, he hopes that turnaround doesn’t begin at Anfield this weekend.

“One of the reasons why I think Guardiola is the best manager in the world is that he always comes up with solutions for his problems,” Slot said at his pre-match press conference on Thursday.

“His problem now might be that Rodrigo is out, but we all know, I think, that he will come up with a solution and the run of form will go again. Hopefully after Sunday.

“I think he was the one who started playing the inverted full-back, then he was the one that started to play the centre-back as a number six. So I don’t think it’s a surprise for anyone if he again comes up with something no-one has ever thought about before to make his team even stronger.”

Liverpool’s latest statement win, to defeat Madrid for the first time in nine meetings, came at a cost.

Defenders Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate are doubtful for the weekend after suffering injuries late in the game.

“It’s never a good sign if, in Conor’s case, we had to take him off and Ibou couldn’t walk off the pitch as he should after such a fantastic game that he played,” added Slot.

However, the Dutchman confirmed Trent Alexander-Arnold would be fit enough to replace Bradley if necessary.

All three previous sides to enjoy at least an eight-point lead after 12 Premier League matches went on to win the title.

Liverpool have won the league just once since 1990 and have missed out twice in recent seasons to City by a single point as Guardiola’s men have racked up six of the last seven titles.

Slot refused to buy into the idea that the defending champions are there for the taking when asked if City’s slump has made Liverpool’s task easier in the title race.

“I don’t think anyone in the last eight or nine years, or maybe even longer, would have said that City, home or away, that the word easy ever comes to mind.”