Manchester City vs Liverpool - Pep Guardiola calls for ‘perfect’ Manchester City performance

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has told his players they will have to produce “the perfect game” if they are to reel in Liverpool and reach the Champions League semi-finals.

City will run out at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday evening trailing 3-0 from the first leg and knowing their European dream will be over for another season if they cannot engineer a remarkable turnaround.

Guardiola said: “Of course to go through, you have to make the perfect game, create chances, be clinical, concede few chances – all the conditions have to be perfect.

“The result is tough, but we have 90 minutes and in football, everything can happen. What we are going to do is try.

“We don’t need to talk about motivation. The way they play in every game shows what they want to do. My team is extraordinary, not comparable to many others.”

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists City remain as dangerous as ever despite the worst week in Guardiola’s 18 months at the club.

City’s first-leg defeat was followed by a 3-2 loss in the Manchester derby as United came back from 2-0 down at half-time.

However, despite Liverpool being favourites to progress, Klopp has not seen much to change his opinion of how good a team City are.

Asked if he thought City were more vulnerable, he said: “No, I didn’t think anything like that.

“They had a fantastic season but they are human beings, thank God. They had two results which maybe no-one really expected.

“When we lost here 5-0 at the beginning of the season, everybody saw the quality of City even when we were one man down, the preparation for the season, signings, the best coach in the world.

“It is clear they would be outstanding but there is no perfect football team in the world.

“Most of the people think Liverpool will go through but will lose the game. We have the chance to win.”

Liverpool’s chances of doing that will be enhanced if 38-goal forward Mohamed Salah (groin) is fit.

Klopp added: “We train at Melwood at 5pm (Monday) and then we have to wait for the reaction tomorrow and we will make a decision.”

Reds captain Jordan Henderson is suspended, while Klopp is still awaiting updates on left-backs Andrew Robertson and Alberto Moreno.

Sergio Aguero could make his first start for more than a month for City, for who left-back Benjamin Mendy (knee) is the only definite absentee.