Man City surprise Pep Guardiola at Chelsea to find unique quality in the title race

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola could not have shown less interest in the fact that his Manchester City team had hit top spot in the Premier League for the first time in nearly 18 months.The Blues beat down fierce opposition from Aston Villa to move into pole position ahead of Manchester United ’s trip to Fulham, which kicked off two hours later.And with Liverpool dominating almost from the start of last season, and City starting the current campaign a week late and in ordinary form, City’s

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola was left hoping on Wednesday night that the injuries that forced Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne off against Aston Villa will not be too serious.Manchester City continued their good form, winning their sixth straight league game and ninth in all competitions to reach the Premier League summit for the first time this season thanks to late goals from Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan.However, they had to make do without two of their starting XI for long spells.

direct to your inboxPep Guardiola called upon an answer he has used before when asked how he will spend his 50th birthday today.The Manchester City boss saw his side produce a professional performance mixed with moments of individual quality on Saturday to beat Crystal Palace 4-0 and move up to second in the Premier League with a game in hand over leaders Manchester United.United had earlier drawn 0-0 with Liverpool, allowing City to move above Liverpool and to within two points of United with a

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola could not rule out a January transfer for Eric Garcia but hopes that Manchester City will be able to keep hold of the player. Garcia stunned the Blues last year when he opted not to extend his contract at the Etihad and decided that he wanted to return to Barcelona.

direct to your inboxThe date and kick-off times for the FA Cup forth round have been confirmed.Manchester United will welcome fierce rivals Liverpool to Old Trafford on Sunday, January 24, with kick-off coming at 5pm. It will be shown live on BBC One.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola queried how effective the new protocols for Covid-19 can be in preventing contact on the pitch after Manchester City's FA Cup win over Birmingham. With more regular testing introduced recently across clubs following outbreaks including Newcastle, City, and Fulham, the PFA this week reminded all players not to celebrate with teammates at goals or swap shirts at the end of games in a bid to reduce contact and keep infection rates down.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola is not sure when he will be able to call on Sergio Aguero with the Manchester City striker isolating after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola asked his Manchester City side for the same level of intensity in the second half of their Carabao Cup semi-final win over Manchester United to book their place in a fourth successive final.City and United had exchanged blows in the opening 45 minutes, with both sides having goals ruled out for offside and both goalkeepers making superb saves.

direct to your inboxManchester United and Manchester City are locking horns in a Carabao Cup semi-final tonight.City, winners of the competition in each of the last three seasons, tackle a United side looking to lift the competition for the first time since 2017. With the country having entered a third lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, Old Trafford will once again be without fans but it remains a fiercely-anticipated clash.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola is confident that Kevin De Bruyne will sign a new contract at Manchester City despite the absence of a breakthrough in negotiations. The Blues are keen to tie the 2019/20 Premier League Player of the Year down to a bumper deal that will commit him to the club beyond the terms of his current contract that expires in 2023.

straight to your inbox Phil Foden says Manchester City's brilliant first half performance at Chelsea was down to Pep Guardiola's 'genius' preparation. City hit Chelsea with two goals in three minutes, and followed up with a third shortly after to take complete control of the clash at Stamford Bridge before 35 minutes had been played.

straight to your inboxPhil Foden should be starting every game for Manchester City from now on, according to Micah Richards.Foden starred as City beat Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in Sunday's Premier League clash. The England international has not been a regular starter for Pep Guardiola 's side this season.

straight to your inbox Pep Guardiola has told Benjamin Mendy's critics to look themselves in the mirror after suggesting the Manchester City defender wasn't the only person to break Covid-19 rules on New Year's Eve. City have launched an investigation after Mendy's breach of protocols when he invited a small number of friends and family around to celebrate the New Year.

straight to your inboxManchester City might use their academy players for the FA Cup clash against Birmingham City in order to field stronger teams against Chelsea and Manchester United.The new year begins with a big Premier League clash against Chelsea on Sunday, before a Carabao Cup semi-final at Old Trafford and an FA Cup third round tie at home to Championship side Birmingham.With at least five City players set to be missing for the Chelsea trip due to Covid tests, Guardiola will have to

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola has told his Manchester City players not to look too closely at a Premier League table that has rivals Manchester United as joint leaders.United moved level with Liverpool on New Year's Day by beating Aston Villa, with City seven points behind the pair albeit with two games in hand.Speaking ahead of City's trip to face Chelsea, Guardiola said he is not surprised to see a club of United's stature back at the top of the table, but warned Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's

straight to your inboxManchester City take on Chelsea on Sunday in a match that will be vital for both sides in keeping their Premier League title chances alive.Both teams currently sit on 26 points, though City have played two games less, and a win for either would move them to within four points of leaders Liverpool and Manchester United.But City are at a severe disadvantage as they will be without five players due to positive coronavirus tests as well as centre-back Eric Garcia who is out due

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola trusts the Premier League to make the right decision on a potential circuit breaker as Manchester City prepare for their game with Chelsea without five players or a fully open training ground as a result of Covid-19. Having already seen one match this week postponed, the Blues need to hope that the additional testing done on Thursday and Saturday gives them the all-clear to go ahead with the Chelsea game on Sunday.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola blasted Everton for their reaction to the postponement of their Premier League game with Manchester City and insisted that he had personally phoned Carlo Ancelotti to inform him of the situation.