Pep Guardiola identified Liverpool FC's secret weapon vs Man City by saying nothing at all

It wasn't a press conference for the ages, as Pep Guardiola chose his words carefully ahead of Manchester City's trip to Liverpool.

He simply wished Trent Alexander-Arnold a speedy recovery after his controversial comments on City's spending, keen not to add his voice to the growing row over Liverpool's successes under Jurgen Klopp supposedly 'meaning more' to them than when City win titles.

It was a wise choice - why give Liverpool any ammunition to whip up a frenzy when Alexander-Arnold has done that for City. Guardiola did concede that he was happy to see Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias defend the club, but added that they do that every game when City march on to their trebles and league titles. It was an agreement of sorts with both - that City's trophy cabinet speaks for itself - without actually agreeing with them.

ALSO READ: Pep Guardiola tells Man City to rise above Trent Alexander-Arnold's jibe

ALSO READ: Pep Guardiola confirms Jack Grealish injury and teases Jurgen Klopp dinner ahead of Liverpool FC vs Man City

Further attempts to get Guardiola talking on the Anfield crowd, or Jurgen Klopp's departure, hardly got the manager speaking more freely. The crowd won't impact the game, he said, and there is no significance to this being the final Guardiola-Klopp meeting in the Premier League because they will probably meet in the FA Cup before the end of the season.

It was a nightmare press conference for journalists trying to elicit a killer line, but Guardiola will consider it a success that he did not give Liverpool anything to get angry about. Because Guardiola knows how significant the crowd can be at Anfield, and that Liverpool are at their best when they have a feeling of injustice to fight behind. They