Pep Guardiola priorities should make Man City underdogs in Liverpool FA Cup fixture

Pep Guardiola may be forced to prioritise Manchester City’s defence of the Premier League title when it comes to the FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool. With a vital home game against unpredictable Brighton just four days away, the Blues manager has some big calls to make in his team selection.

Bruised, battered and exhausted after the Battle of Madrid, Guardiola may well take a gamble on leaving out — or at least benching — some of his key players against what is likely to be a full-strength and rested Liverpool. He has faith in squad players like Fernandinho, Aleks Zinchenko, and Nathan Ake — and could be boosted by the return of Ruben Dias — but is set to be without Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker.

Playing Bernardo Silva, Joao Cancelo and Phil Foden again so soon after that night in the Wanda Metropolitano could have repercussions for the visit of the Seagulls on Wednesday.

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City versus Liverpool is a thoroughly modern rivalry, but it is a blessing that it remains a healthy and respectful one, certainly when it comes to the two managers and their teams. Jurgen Klopp and Guardiola have genuine admiration for each other, and so do the sets of players — and that reflects in the standard of football and the discipline exhibited.

There were five bookings in last Sunday’s game and a Fabinho challenge that was potentially a red card, but that was mistimed rather than brutal, a stark contrast to Atletico’s thuggery and the gamesmanship in which both sides indulged in Madrid. In that one, City were responding to Atletico’s provocation.

Zack Steffen is normally City’s keeper but against such high-calibre opponents who will seek to press high, Guardiola could