Eurovision sidetracking Manchester City schedule leaves Pep Guardiola peeved amid preference to face Everton on Saturday

Pep Guardiola admits the Eurovision Song Contest has given him a headache as he looks to keep Manchester City's treble bid on track.

The Premier League leaders face a crucial trip to relegation-threatened Everton on Sunday, three days before they host Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final.

City boss Guardiola would have preferred the Goodison Park clash to be played on Saturday but, with Eurovision taking place in Liverpool city centre that day, that could not be sanctioned for security reasons.

That means Real, who are out of contention for the LaLiga title and are in action on Saturday against Getafe, will have a day's rest more than City heading into Wednesday's encounter.

"My thought is just Everton, no more than that. Eleven months working for the Premier League, I don't want to be distracted for Madrid because I won't have time," Guardiola said at a press conference.

"Well, not much, because we play Sunday - thank you so much. I don't understand it, but I don't want to fight for that any more.

"We have to adapt to it. It doesn't matter, I don't fight any more the schedules.

"In the end we can't play Saturday because of Eurovision or something like that in Liverpool and we don't have enough bodies to handle two important events sometimes.

"OK, you have to adapt. What can I do? We'd prefer to play Saturday to be able to prepare but it is what it is.

"I'm pretty sure the Premier League want to help the teams. I don't think they make it uncomfortable."

Unlike Real, City will not want to ease up over the weekend as they look to keep Arsenal at bay in the title race.

City go into the weekend fixtures with a clear advantage, leading the Gunners by a point with a game in hand.

They could face a tough