Arsenal and Liverpool handed brutal fixture list chaos as Pep Guardiola Man City wish granted

Manchester City had a watching brief this week. For the first time since September, there was no midweek fixture for the Blues.

Pep Guardiola's side were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Tottenham in October- a result that started a dismal run that City have not managed to shake off. As a result, City were not involved in the quarter final ties played this week and were afforded the chance to rest, recover and reset ahead of the hectic Christmas period.

Guardiola has spoken often about the schedule this season with City involved in the expanded Club World Cup next summer and facing a mammoth 12-month campaign on the back of the 2024 European Championships where four Blues played in the final.

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The concertinaed nature of the fixture list, coupled with City's relatively small squad, has prompted Guardiola to admit he will likely need more bodies to be able to cope. That may see signings in January, a window City try to avoid where possible, and any additions would provide a welcome boost for a club clinging on to the coat-tails in the Premier League and Champions League.

And as City prepare for a December and January period that will define their season in three competitions, Guardiola's rivals will face fixture chaos in the New Year.

Premier League leaders Liverpool and title contenders Arsenal both booked their spot in the last four of the League Cup in midweek, with wins over Southampton and Crystal Palace respectively. Those semi-finals remain over two legs, while the pair could yet be pitted against each other in Thursday's draw.

Both will