Pep Guardiola plays down advantage on Liverpool and drops Barcelona selection hint

Here are your latest Manchester City evening headlines on Friday, August 19.

Guardiola dismisses advantage on Liverpool

Pep Guardiola dismissed the significance of City's early advantage on Liverpool in the Premier League.

City are at the top of the table with two wins (and two clean sheets) from their opening two fixtures and are four points ahead of Liverpool, the team expected to be their biggest challengers. Jurgen Klopp's runners-up have failed to beat Fulham and Crystal Palace in their opening games to surrender an early gap to the defending champions.

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READ MORE: Guardiola sends City injury warning

City manager hints at selection vs Barcelona

Guardiola indicated that he will use players that need game time when City meet Spanish giants Barcelona next week in a mid-season friendly.

City have signed up for a charity game in support of a former Barcelona and Spain keeper who previously worked with Guardiola, although the timing of the match has left some supporters anxious not to lose any players to injury ahead of bigger challenges and competitions to come.

Guardiola has defended the decision for City to play the game, insisting that on top of a charitable cause it would be "incredibly important" to play at the Nou Camp against a team who "it never looks like a friendly" when you play them. He went on to talk up the significance of getting rhythm into all of his group ahead of the next month, where they will have a game every three days.

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