‘Would say no’ - Pep Guardiola makes Liverpool Champions League draw admission

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola scotched the suggestion that playing Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-finals would be more difficult than meeting a European outfit.

City booked their spot in the last-eight of the competition after thrashing Sporting Lisbon 5-0 over two legs.

The Reds are also in the hat for the draw following a 2-1 aggregate defeat of Inter Milan in the last 16.

English clubs are able to face each other in the quarters, with Chelsea and Manchester United hoping to make it into the next stage when they face Lille and Atletico Madrid respectively next week.

Liverpool and City are going at it hammer and tongs for the Premier League title and drawing each other in the Champions League would add another twist.

But Guardiola feels being pitted against the Reds, Chelsea or Man Utd wouldn't be any harder than encountering Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, who are also through.

The City boss said: “I would say no. It is difficult for us but for them too and for opponents from other countries as well.

“We are in the eight best teams in Europe and we will prepare well. Next Friday we are going to see the draw and we are prepared.

“It’s an honour to be there. Important teams are already out.

“We’ll see next week what happens but already the four teams [who] are in the last eight - [they are] not bad at all.”

Past meeting

Liverpool knocked Man City out of the Champions League quarter-finals in the 2017-2018 season.

The Reds won 5-1 on aggregate before going on to reach the final and suffer a 3-1 loss to Real Madrid.

Jurgen Klopp’s side trail City by six points but have a game in hand in the Premier League.

The potential title-deciding fixture at the Etihad takes place on Sunday 10 April.

They shared a 2-2 draw at Anfield earlier this season.