Marc Guehi makes Pep Guardiola admission ahead of Liverpool vs Man City

Marc Guehi came close to signing for Liverpool in the summer but will now line up against them for Manchester City in Sunday's Premier League clash.

Marc Guehi could easily have been lining up against Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday rather than for them. The 25-year-old underwent a medical with Liverpool in the closing stages of the summer window before his move to Merseyside from Crystal Palace broke down.

Six months on, the centre back did depart Selhurst Park but it was for the Etihad rather than Arne Slot's defending champions. Guehi will start for City in Sunday's showdown and could offer Liverpool a taste of what could have been with the Reds struggling with injuries at the back.

The England international has only been at City a matter of weeks but already feels as though his game has developed under the management of Pep Guardiola and his tutelage.

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"It’s been a dream," said Guehi. "He’s improved my game massively. He’s someone who believes in us a lot. There’s a lot of detail, a lot of influence in the way we want to play – as individuals, always improving and getting better. When you have a manager, coaching staff and teammates who are obsessed at that level, it only takes your game to new heights. Hopefully I can continue.”

It's not just Guehi who has been impressed. Guardiola has been delighted with his first impression of a player he has admired for years.

"After two or three days, play good or bad I don't care but he is a great signing for Man City for the next five, six, seven, eight years," said Guardiola. "He has the skills, the mentality, how he lives many things to be a good central defender."

City start the weekend six points behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race with the Gunners having the chance to stretch it to nine should they beat Sunderland on Saturday. But Guehi feels the Blues are capable of reeling in the leaders.

“We just need to keep going – we’re definitely going in the right direction," he said. "It’s important we keep improving as a team, making sure we improve in each and every area of the games that we can. Winning games is massive and big in any competition so as long as we keep going like that, I don’t see why we can’t achieve our goals this season.

“The goal is always to win and always to get better. There’s still a long season ahead – lots of points and games to fight for. The mindset is to look forward."

Of the prospect of facing Liverpool at Anfield, Guehi added: "Team spirit and resilience. It’s not an easy place to go to but as long as we show that resilience and team spirit together – knowing that we have the qualities to compete against any other team – we thoroughly believe in ourselves.

"It’s about doing our job – making sure we turn up in the right spirits, focus our mentality and go out there and try to get the win."