Manchester City

Manchester City's quest to win the Carabao Cup for a third consecutive year continues on Wednesday when they travel to Oxford United.

Pep Guardiola's side won a domestic treble last term, and the League Cup represents their first shot at silverware this season.

Oxford are just outside the League One play-off positions in eighth place, and they will be huge outsiders to progress at the expense of the holders.

                           

Date: Wednesday, Dec. 18

Time: 7:45 p.m. GMT, 2:45 p.m. ET

Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), ESPN+ (U.S.)

TV Info: Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports Main Event (UK)

Odds: Oxford United 20-1, Manchester City 1-9, draw 10-1 (via Oddschecker)

                   

Preview

Guardiola is expected to field a blend of youth and reserve players for his side's match at a familiar lower-league ground. City won 3-0 at the Kassam Stadium in the third round of the competition last season.

Phil Foden ran the show during that victory, and U's manager Karl Robinson compared the teenager to Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta.

The 19-year-old could be a thorn in the side of Oxford once more on Wednesday after he started in Sunday's 3-0 Premier League win at Arsenal.

Foden continues to operate on the fringes of the City team, after making eight appearances in the Premier League this season, with seven of those coming from the bench.

The England under-21 international has seen most of his recent action in the UEFA Champions League, scoring twice and providing two assists in four games.

There could be a surprise return for Sergio Aguero after a month out with a thigh injury. The Argentina international was pictured in training on Monday:

A sight to behold! 🥰

🔵 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/yPcBAU9Xkb

— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 16, 2019

The 31-year-old has been missing for a month, but the cup tie might be too soon for a full 90 minutes.

Guardiola has previously shown great respect for the League Cup and resisted wholesale changes in favour of including more established players.

Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez could join Foden in midfield after cameo roles off the bench against the Gunners.

City's receding chances of retaining the Premier League could shift increased emphasis on to cup competitions.

Oxford are without a victory in their last three matches in all competitions, and more worryingly for Robinson, his side have failed to score in those games.

A collapse in form is the last thing needed when your next opponent is one of the best in the world; and even with City's rotated squad, Guardiola will still have world-class players at his disposal.

The Sky Blues have won four of the past six League Cup finals, and they will be looking to extend that run beyond the tie at the Kassam Stadium.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has denied a report that he has an option to leave the club next summer because of a break clause in his contract.

According to The Times' Matt Lawton, the Catalan coach's deal runs out in 2021, but he can leave a year early (h/t the BBC's Allie Hodgkins-Brown):

Friday’s TIMES Sport: “Guardiola’s City deal has break clause” #BBCPapers #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/eoGFzOQfw2

— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) December 12, 2019

Lawton reported Guardiola can only activate the clause if "certain conditions set by City" are met, should he decide he wants to leave, though neither he or the club wants to do so at this time.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Guardiola said there is no such clause in his contract, per the Press Association's Andy Hampson:

Guardiola denies there is a break clause in his contract #MCFC pic.twitter.com/s9J5aGrafs

— Andy Hampson (@andyhampson) December 13, 2019

As Lawton observed, Guardiola said in November he is "open" to extending his stay at the Etihad Stadium The 48-year-old is in his fourth season with City, so by the end of the campaign, he will have been in charge of the club for the same amount of time he was in the dugout at Barcelona.

Guardiola's Barcelona side won 14 trophies between 2008 and 2012, including three La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions Leagues.

Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu would, unsurprisingly, be happy if the manager were to return to the Camp Nou:

Pep Guardiola back to Barcelona? 😱

He's always welcome, says their club president 👀 pic.twitter.com/IBJ3BVsfZL

— GOAL (@goal) December 9, 2019

Such was the intensity of his time at Barcelona, Guardiola took a 12-month sabbatical before joining Bayern Munich in 2013. He spent three years in Germany before moving to City.

His Bayern side won the Bundesliga every season during his tenure and added seven more honours to his trophy cabinet, but they went out of the Champions League in the semi-finals on each occasion. The Bavarian outfit had won the competition immediately before Guardiola took charge.

City have won back-to-back Premier League titles and three domestic cups since Guardiola arrived in 2016, but they have struggled this season and find themselves third after 16 games, 14 points behind leaders Liverpool.

The Sky Blues have provided Guardiola with an incredible amount of financial backing since his arrival:

Pep Guardiola speaking to Sky Sports: “That is the level we face, against Liverpool, United, Barcelona, Madrid, Juventus. They are the teams we have to face and the reality is maybe we are not able now to compete with them.” pic.twitter.com/0iiWi0CsSw

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 9, 2019

As imperious as the team have been for much of his reign, the club will likely be disappointed at their under-performance this season given the astronomical resources that have been invested.

Barring an incredible turnaround, a third straight Premier League title looks unlikely this season, but City remain in the Champions League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup, so there's plenty of success they can still achieve if their form improves.

If City continue to struggle, though, it would not be a surprise if he decided to move on at the end of the season, clause or not.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola hailed Dinamo Zagreb star Dani Olmo following the UEFA Champions League clash between the sides on Wednesday.

Olmo opened the scoring for his team on the night, only for City to respond in emphatic fashion, with Gabriel Jesus netting a hat-trick in a 4-1 success.

Following the game, there was plenty of talk about Olmo, who has impressed throughout the Champions League campaign. Guardiola said he expects the Spain youth international to make a move to a high-profile outfit, per Nicholas McGee of Goal:

"He's a top player—he has a bright future, of course. 

"is performance today shows it. About the transfer and the money he deserves, that is not the point. The point is he is an incredible player and I am pretty sure he is able to play in the strong leagues in Europe. Hopefully if Dinamo wants and he wants, it can happen."

Here are the highlights from the encounter at Stadion Maksimir, as City rubber-stamped their progression to the next round with a stylish win:

https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1204825818041597952

Even before Wednesday's clash, Olmo had been frequently mentioned in regard to a possible transfer. Per McGee, he has been linked with City and Barcelona, as well as Serie A sides AC Milan and Roma.

Per Sport, before Wednesday's game Guardiola spoke directly about the reported interest in the Spaniard: "According to the press we want to sign 100 players a month and, of course, Olmo is one of them. We will see what happens."

Olmo was previously on the books of Barcelona, joining the academy aged nine in 2007 and then leaving for Zagreb in 2014. Since then, he's played regularly and has started to develop his reputation in European football.

Per the Champions League Twitter account, the Zagreb starlet has already shown he can be productive at the highest level:

What. A. Finish! 🚀

Dani Olmo has now been directly involved in 3 goals in 6 #UCL games this season (2 goals, 1 assist) 🔥 pic.twitter.com/RPVBPEbz9m

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 11, 2019

Football writer Chris Winterburn thinks the player may be on the move in the January transfer window:

Dani Olmo doing Dani Olmo things. January... tick tock.

— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) December 11, 2019

While Olmo has benefitted from playing frequently for the Croatian club, he does look ready to make the step up to a team with a higher profile.

City and Barcelona would be exciting opportunities for Olmo, although it's questionable as to whether he would get the playing time needed to continue developing. As such, a switch to a club like Roma or Milan would feel like the more sensible move.

Manchester City ended their UEFA Champions League group stage campaign with a 4-1 win against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday. Gabriel Jesus netted a hat-trick in the win. 

With nothing on the line for the Sky Blues, manager Pep Guardiola rested several key starters in Croatia. Star prospect Dani Olmo gave the hosts a shock lead, but it was all City from that point, with three goals from Jesus sending Zagreb out of European competition. Phil Foden added a fourth late in the second half.

City had already secured the top spot in Group C before Wednesday's match. Atalanta's win at Shakhtar Donetsk means the Italians defied the odds and advance to the knockout stages with a -4 goal differential. They only picked up one point from their first four matches.

Here is a look at the City starting XI, featuring youngsters Foden and Eric Garcia:

Your City line-up 🙌

Bravo, Cancelo, Otamendi (C), E Garcia, Mendy, Rodrigo, Gundogan, Mahrez, Foden, Bernardo, Jesus

Subs | Ederson, Walker, Sterling, Zinchenko, Angelino, De Bruyne, Harwood-Bellis

🔵 #ManCity #UCL pic.twitter.com/a4SYrxUOHt

— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 11, 2019

While City had little left to play for, Zagreb knew they had to get a result to advance to the next round, with Shakhtar Donetsk and Atalanta also still in the running.

The hosts were happy to cede possession to City but pressed with intensity when they saw an opening, and it yielded results after just 10 minutes. Star prospect Olmo made a run into the box before unleashing a fantastic volley, beating Claudio Bravo.

Here's a look at the great goal (U.S. viewers only):

https://twitter.com/brfootball/status/1204827721756491780

EiF are expecting more transfer rumours soon:

What a superb goal from Dani Olmo. Great late run into the box and what a first time volley.

Would be stunned if we don’t see rumors heat up about him going to a bigger league in the winter/summer.

— EiF (@EiFSoccer) December 11, 2019

Dinamo continued to commit numbers to the counter, and while City played their usual passing game, it didn't lead to many openings. The midfield battle was crowded, and the Sky Blues found no success out wide.

A quick counter resulted in a three-on-two situation for the hosts after 25 minutes, but poor decision-making from Nikola Moro saw the great chance come to nothing. Joao Cancelo also made the wrong choice with his cutback, with three Citizens ready to pounce.

Dinamo held steady for much of the half, but a mental mistake cost them dearly. When a player went down with an apparent injury, they switched off, but City kept playing and eventually worked the ball to Jesus, who headed home.

The Brazilian continues to shine on the road:

All eight of Gabriel Jesus' goals this season across all competitions have come away from home.

City's specialist on the road. 🛣 pic.twitter.com/NjfFv6WPBU

— Squawka (@Squawka) December 11, 2019

The hosts were furious, but City were well within their rights to play on, as the apparent injury wasn't to the head.

The rest of the half was played under the jeers from the crowd, and with Shakhtar and Atalanta locked in a scoreless draw in Ukraine, the half-time situation saw Zagreb virtually relegated to the Europa League.

Zagreb's qualification bid was sunk in the span of minutes in the second half, with Jesus netting in the 50th and 54 minutes. The Brazilian finished off two wonderful attacks, with Foden and Benjamin Mendy credited with the respective assists.

The Sky Blues passed a milestone under Guardiola along the way:

Man City have now scored 500 goals in all competitions under Pep Guardiola (199 games), at least 95 more than any other senior English team since he was appointed
Top Scorers:
108 Sergio Aguero
73 Raheem Sterling
55 Gabriel Jesus
39 Leroy Sane pic.twitter.com/Es35YnUS4R

— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) December 11, 2019

Dinamo had to force the action, but City took complete control of the ball once the two-goal lead was on the board. They also added Oleksandr Zinchenko to the mix, introducing even more stability in the team.

Olmo remained Dinamo's most dangerous player, and he tested Bravo with a fierce strike that was fired too close to the goalkeeper.

Raheem Sterling thought he had made it 4-1 after tapping home a rebound, but the official raised his flag, with replays confirming the England international was offside. Foden did get the fourth goal, finishing neatly after another great passing move. 

To add insult to injury for the hosts, Atalanta beat Shakhtar 3-0, meaning Zagreb not only failed to qualify for the knockout stages, but they also dropped to last place and missed out on a spot in the Europa League. 

   

What's Next?

City visit Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday. Dinamo host NK Lokomotiva on Friday.

Manchester City are reportedly preparing for Pep Guardiola's potential exit next summer, despite the manager being contracted at the Etihad Stadium until 2021.

According to The Athletic's David Ornstein (h/t the Mirror's Darren Wells), although it's said the Catalan coach is set to see out his deal and could even extend it, the club are making preparations for a departure as early as the end of this season.

Guardiola will have been at City for four campaigns by then; he has never stayed in a managerial role at a club beyond that.

In case of an early exit, City have already begun searching for a new member of the backroom staff to work alongside the first team's medical and fitness departments.

It is said the role would become much more involved should the coach move on, and potential recruits have been informed that this could be a possibility at the end of the season.

Fox Sports' James Dodd suggested Guardiola's days at the Etihad could be numbered after City's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on Saturday:

Have a feeling this might be Pep’s last year in Manchester mate. I know he’s hinted at otherwise but just seems reminiscent of his last year at Barca. Almost impossible to maintain City’s standards for three years straight.

— James Dodd (@JamesDodd89) December 7, 2019

The 48-year-old spent four seasons in charge of Barcelona from 2008 until 2012. In that time, the club won three La Liga titles, as well as the UEFA Champions League and the Copa del Rey twice apiece, among other honours.

He then spent a year on sabbatical before taking charge of Bayern Munich in 2013. They won three Bundesliga titles and two DFB-Pokals before he swapped Munich for Manchester in 2016.

City finished third in the Premier League—having collected 12 more points than they did in Manuel Pellegrini's final year in charge—and without silverware in Guardiola's first campaign.

The Sky Blues collected a record 100 points in his second season as well as winning the Carabao Cup. Last season, they won the league with 98 points as part of a domestic treble alongside the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.

City have struggled under Guardiola this season, though, and find themselves 14 points behind Liverpool in the title race.

The manager has suggested they're no longer able to compete at the top level:

Guardiola: "Man Utd have the quality to defend and the quality to attack on the counter-attack. That's the level we face against Liverpool, Man Utd, Barcelona, Real, Juventus. They're the teams we have to face and the reality is maybe we are not able now to compete with them." 😲 pic.twitter.com/sPmzTjX921

— GOAL (@goal) December 8, 2019

It is perhaps no coincidence that the Citizens have struggled following the departure of club captain Vincent Kompany in the summer. The Belgian had been a leader and a talisman for the team since he joined in 2008.

City could be set for further difficulties next season as two other stalwarts, David Silva and Fernandinho, are in the final year of their contracts.

Guardiola leaving at the same time would be disastrous, so it's a wise move for them to prepare as best they can if they find themselves needing to transition to a new coach earlier than expected.  

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said his side won't be prioritising the UEFA Champions League over the Premier League title despite slipping 14 points behind Liverpool.

City lost 2-1 to local rivals Manchester United on Saturday—their fourth league defeat of the season—while Liverpool eased to a 3-0 win at Bournemouth.

Per Goal's Jonathan Smith, when asked if their domestic struggles had shifted their focus to Europe, Guardiola said: "We are not thinking to win the Champions League. We are trying to win games, to win the next one. I am not thinking about how many points we need or how many points they have to drop."

Goals from Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial put United ahead in the first half at the Etihad Stadium. Nicolas Otamendi bagged a late consolation, but City did not manage to find an equaliser.

Fox Soccer suggested the Sky Blues' hopes of winning a third consecutive Premier League title were over:

Man City have already dropped as many points in the Premier League this season as they did during the entire 2018/19 campaign. 😬

Title hopes over? pic.twitter.com/R383vJiqsl

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 7, 2019

As OptaJoe illustrated, it would be unprecedented if City were to win the league from this position:

14 - After their defeat to Man Utd, Man City are now 14 points behind league-leaders Liverpool; in English top-flight history, no side has ever gone on to win the title after being as many as 14 points behind the top side at the end of a day. Over? pic.twitter.com/eZ5IuenpMK

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 7, 2019

According to Smith, the Citizen's total of 32 points from their first 16 matches marks Guardiola's worst start to a league campaign since he became a manager in 2008.

Guardiola noted City's need to improve:

"The reality is we are 14 points [behind] for the mistakes we have done, for the quality of our opponents and especially as well the things we cannot control. That is the reality, but we have to continue.

"We are at the beginning of December, and we have other competitions to play and other games to fight and improve on that and maybe it is going to help us for the future, so we need to live that as a club to be better."

He suggested they may not be able to compete with Europe's elite, though. He told Sky Sports (h/t Reuters, via ESPN FC): "That is the level we face, against Liverpool, United, Barcelona, [Real] Madrid, Juventus—they are the teams we have to face and the reality is maybe we are not able now to compete with them."

Given City's title hopes are now dangling by a thread, it's understandable they might look to other competitions to deliver silverware that can salvage their season.

The Champions League, as the most prestigious and lucrative of the cup competitions they're competing in, is naturally the one that would be prioritised in that case.

City have only won one European trophy in their history, too—the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1970—as the Champions League has eluded them since their rise to the top of the English game in the last decade.

The Athletic's Sam Lee sees little sense in changing their priorities at this stage, though:

If the points gap is huge in April then I’m sure they’ll do the opposite of what they did for the Spurs away leg, i.e. rest a few big guns for a league game and keep them fresh for the European game. But that’s gonna be April. It’s not even Christmas yet. Focus on playing well!

— Sam Lee (@SamLee) December 8, 2019

Indeed, City only have one more group stage match to play in the competition, and they've already secured top spot in Group C. As such, they won't play another meaningful game in Europe until February.

In the meantime, although it seems unlikely they can reel in Liverpool, they might as well keep their focus on their domestic efforts and re-evaluate the situation when the Champions League resumes next year.  

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has said Pep Guardiola immediately tried to raise the spirits of his players in the dressing room after the 2-1 Premier League defeat on Saturday against Manchester United.

The champions fell 14 points behind Liverpool in the title race after the shock loss at the Etihad Stadium, but Rodri explained Guardiola remained positive in defeat, per Metro:

"He tried to lift our heads up. It is a tough moment for the team, but we have to keep fighting.

"We have other cups, other goals which are interesting and very good, so we need to keep fighting and of course recover people because we have lots of problems with injuries – it's been tough at the beginning of the season."

City's struggling defence was exposed by United's explosive attack, but the Sky Blues dominated possession in the second half.

It was a match the champions needed to win, but they failed to achieve their agenda despite laying siege to David De Gea's goal.

United's Marcus Rashford opened the scoring from the penalty spot when he was fouled by Bernardo Silva after 23 minutes, and Anthony Martial doubled the advantage just six minutes later.

Central defender Nicolas Otamendi came off the bench to head home with five minutes on the clock, but City ran out of time in their quest for an equaliser.

Rodri added City have consistently failed to stop opponents this season but asked fans to stick with the team through the campaign, per Metro.

"We knew what they were going to do, many times we have known what teams would do but we haven't fixed these things.

"We shouldn't let them turn, we need to be more aggressive – it's our fault.

"It's too much [the points gap], I don't know. I would tell the supporters to stay behind us because we have other things this year, other cups. It's difficult but we have to fight until the end."

City have declined since losing Aymeric Laporte to a knee injury in September, and the Frenchman's value cannot be in doubt after recent inconsistencies.

The centre-back could return for the second half of the season after knee surgery. Fernandinho has been played in the back four, which has also caused a ripple effect of weakening the midfield.

Liverpool remain in command at the summit, and their eight-point lead over Leicester City make them heavy favourites to walk away with the title.

However, City have plenty to play for, and they can pool their resources into the UEFA Champions League if they decide their Premier League aspirations are over until next term.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said there are "many things to play for" this season despite a 2-1 loss at home to rivals United on Saturday, leaving them 14 points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool.

City travel to Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday but are already assured a first-place finish in Group C, while they're set to meet Oxford United in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.

Guardiola spoke to reporters after the loss at home to United and assured his side will fight on regardless of Liverpool's form, with the Reds still yet to lose a domestic game this term:

"We have to try to continue, there are many things to play for. It's difficult because the opponents are on an incredible run winning 15 games out of 16.

"It is not time to think about that. We have to think about what we have to do and think about the next game. Doesn't matter if six, eight or 14 points we have to continue. We are a fantastic team."

The Citizens suffered their fourth defeat of the season—their second at the Etihad Stadium—in the Manchester derby, and their chances of defending the league crown look slim approaching the midway point.

Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial scored inside half an hour to give United a commanding lead at the Etihad on Saturday, with Nicolas Otamendi heading in a late consolation for the hosts, via Sky Sports (UK viewers only):

City have now dropped as many points this season as they did over the course of the entire 2018-19 campaign, with several key injuries seemingly taking their toll on the team.

Central defender Aymeric Laporte and winger Leroy Sane have each been sidelined with long-term injuries, while Sergio Aguero sat out Saturday's game through injury and was missed up front.

OptaJoe highlighted this as a new low in Guardiola's career in terms of starts to a campaign:

32 - This is Pep Guardiola’s worst points return after the first 16 matches of a top-flight season in his managerial career (32 pts). Sluggish. pic.twitter.com/Wvd8Uqzlzy

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 7, 2019

The Catalan coach continued to highlight positives in the loss to United: 

"Yes, we lost 1-2 but I congratulate my team, my players were fantastic, we are a fantastic team.

"We concede three or four counter attacks in the first half, they were clinical but I am more than happy for our performance. We pushed them, we created chances. In general I am happy with the performance. No regrets.

"I know who we are as a team. I am delighted to work with these guys. We tried and we tried in the second half. Unfortunate we scored late and could not turn the result."

Some may consider Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a lesser tactical test considering the scrutiny he's received as United manager, but ESPN's Mark Ogden noted the Norwegian has a knack against the big names:

Solskjaer has had his ups and downs this season, but he's beaten Mourinho and Guardiola in the space of four days, so that's definitely one of his ups...

— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) December 7, 2019

Second-place Leicester City will move six points clear of the Citizens if they win away at Aston Villa on Sunday, while fourth-place Chelsea are only three points behind them.

City are also set to kick off their FA Cup defence in the third round at home to Port Vale on January 4.

Liverpool will take little for granted until their first top-flight title since 1990 has been delivered, though the Citizens look to be falling away in their defence.

Raheem Sterling has said a change in mentality will help him break his long-standing scoring failure against Manchester United. 

Manchester City host their derby rivals at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, with the Premier League champions in need of victory as they trail leaders Liverpool by nine points.

Sterling has not scored against the Red Devils during his nine-year career, spanning 16 games for City and former club Liverpool.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Sterling said his ruthless mentality for scoring goals has developed and it will help him break his United duck. When asked if the unwanted record affects him, the England international said:

"I'd say no and yes. Firstly no, because I didn't take scoring seriously but yes because now I do.

"To see that stat that I haven't scored in 16 games against them, it's a wake-up call. I won't put pressure on myself and will play my game looking with an eye to score. I'll be taking a lot more shots than I usually do."

Sterling emerged as a creative winger at Anfield, but his time under Pep Guardiola has seen him become a regular goalscorer for the Sky Blues.

Despite not hitting top form yet this season, Sterling has scored 13 goals in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League in 19 appearances.

His goal ratio continues to improve as he develops his striking instincts alongside Sergio Aguero.

Sterling admitted criticism of his finishing has helped him focus on becoming a predator in the box:

"It was a subject I kept hearing after games that I don't score enough and I'm not good enough in front of goal. When I first came onto the scene I wanted to show I had ability and that I was a good player. But I was never trying to be greedy in trying to win matches by myself. It was a wake up call hearing all the critics saying he can't score goals, so I thought I'd show them that I can. It's something I started to work on and have belief.

"It's a shift in mentality: in the dressing room I'd always think 'what am I going to do to the right back today - shall I nutmeg him? Maybe a step over?

"But now it's a straight mentality of trying to score and where a goal can come from."

Both Manchester clubs will start the derby off the back of strong wins in their last matches. City romped to a 4-1 Premier League win at Burnley, and United defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at Old Trafford.

Sterling was substituted after just 71 minutes at Turf Moor, allowing the forward a rest before Saturday's clash.

Liverpool's incredible 15-game unbeaten run in the league this term has applied added pressure to City's campaign, and Guardiola's men have been more inconsistent than expected.

The Reds undertake a favourable visit to Bournemouth on Saturday and will be expected to beat the Cherries, who have won just once in their last 10 in all competitions.

Eddie Howe's team are coming off the back of four consecutive Premier League losses, and Liverpool will attempt to flex their muscle on the south coast against a failing opponent.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said the club has not received any approaches for his assistant Mikel Arteta, amid speculation linking the Spaniard with a move to Arsenal or Everton.

Arteta, a former player for both the Gunners and the Toffees, has developed a strong reputation as one of the best coaches in the game, becoming a vital part of Guardiola's staff.

After Arsenal and Everton sacked Unai Emery and Marco Silva, respectively, recently, he has been mentioned as a contender for both vacant posts. However, Guardiola said there's nothing to indicate the 37-year-old will be leaving the club anytime soon, per Sky Sports:

"He travelled to Burnley (on Tuesday) and tomorrow he will be close to me again against United. He will be here until the end of the season, I think so.

"...I'm not a guy that puts a gun to the heads of my staff or players and says what they have to do. We are human beings and everyone has dreams and desires. Hopefully he can stay this season and the next one—as long as possible in this club. That would be my dream, but Mikel has his own life and I will never say what he has to do.

"I arrived here and we were in touch about working together and the time we have spent together has been magnificent. I tried to help him and he has helped me a lot. He knows what I want and what the club wants."

Per BBC Sport's Simon Stone, Guardiola also suggested Arteta could potentially be his successor at the Etihad Stadium:

Pep tells @GeoffShreeves that Arteta is ready to become a manager. Thinks he will be at City for the rest of the season. Says 'he is able' to be Guardiola's successor.

— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) December 6, 2019

In the summer of 2018, Arteta was strongly linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium following the departure of Arsene Wenger.

Eventually, the club opted to bring in Unai Emery, and following a turbulent year-and-a-half in north London, he was given his marching orders. Freddie Ljungberg has taken charge of the previous two games, and after the 2-1 loss to Brighton, the Gunners are nine games without a win.

Meanwhile, Everton are in 18th in the Premier League after their 5-2 loss to Liverpool on Wednesday.

Oliver Kay of The Athletic thinks Arteta may look at both clubs and think twice about making a switch:

Interesting dilemma for Arteta IF he's offered Arsenal/Everton. He wanted Arsenal job post-Wenger, but 18 months later, they & Everton are such a mess and he's 18 months closer to (potentially) taking over from Guardiola. Unpopular, unsolicited opinion: stay where you are, Mikel https://t.co/eseZ1Vzqvq

— Oliver Kay (@OliverKay) December 6, 2019

Given the success City have enjoyed since Arteta arrived at the club, Sam Lee of The Athletic said he can see why he would stick around:

When Arteta nearly joined Arsenal the Guardiola era at City was just getting started. It’s not exactly coming to an end but City have started planning the transition & if Arteta gets offers from elsewhere, he’ll have to weigh them up against The Big Job https://t.co/ONswM9zS45

— Sam Lee (@SamLee) December 6, 2019

In Guardiola, there's no doubt Arteta is working alongside one of the best managers in the world, not to mention some of the finest footballers. That experience will be valuable when he does eventually move into the world of management.

For the fans of Arsenal and Everton, the former midfielder would represent an exciting appointment. But given the respective plights of both clubs, the key decision-makers may deem Arteta to be too much of a risk.