Guardiola has praised the rise of mid-table teams such as Brighton to challenge for top spots this season, and when asked on Friday if he considered Saturday's opponents as rivals, he said: "And Bournemouth, and Aston Villa, and Newcastle (United), and maybe Fulham. Fantastic teams.

Although the 24/25 season has been a disappointment for Manchester City there is still plenty for Pep Guardiola’s side to play for. City have made the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and a testing tie

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes qualification for the Champions League this season would represent a “huge success”. After four successive Premier League titles, City find themselves in an unfamiliar position of simply battling to secure a top-four place this term.