Champions League as it happened: Liverpool and Manchester City press conferences ahead of quarter-final
All the updates as Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp faced the media
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool and Manchester City face off on Wednesday night in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash, with each side holding one win over the other in the Premier League this season.
The Reds ended City’s bid for an unbeaten season earlier this year with a thrilling 4-3 win at Anfield after Pep Guardiola’s side hammered them 5-0 in September following Sadio Mane’s red card.
And now they will settle their difference in Europe, with both sides almost guaranteed to finish in their current domestic positions, as City could wrap up the title against Manchester United on Saturday and Liverpool have a healthy lead over fifth-placed Chelsea in the race for next season’s Champions League.
Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp face the media ahead of Wednesday’s game, with Liverpool up at 3pm BST and City following at 4.30pm.
Follow all the latest from the press conferences below…
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Hello and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Liverpool's and Manchester City's press conferences ahead of their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.
Jurgen Klopp is first up at 3pm for Liverpool, with Pep Guardiola following at 4.30pm BST.
Stay with us for all the latest updates...
While you wait for Klopp, why not read this by Miguel Delaney on the compelling nature of all-English Champions League ties - and why they're so different to Premier League games.
Injury news:
Matip: "Can is out for the rest of the season, there is no doubt about that. It's very serious of course. It needs further assessment and perhaps surgery. Should be back for the pre-season."
Lallana: "Adam we have to see. It's hamstring injury and could have been worse. So he is not available for the game. He could be back before the end of the season."
Can: "Emre could be there for the game tomorrow"
There is also no Gomez or Klavan.
On the weekend:
"Manchester City are already champions without beingchampions. As long as we can still be second at the end of the season then we haveto do all we can do. I don’t care much about Manchester City vs United, I onlycare about Everton. It’s an important one for us."
"It's possible [to beat City]. We have done it and it was difficult so we know it'll be difficult again. Hoping for a clean sheet is not the way to play Man City. You need a fantastic goalkeeper and defence and play balls into the space. You need to be good defensively and offensively."
On Matip:"It's a big blow, he is a very big player. We need him. Joel took it, he was surprised, he didn't think it would be that long. He has already started his recovery now though."
On the build-up to Manchester City:"I don't know about the opposition but for us it's wonderful. It shows the passion. If it happens in a legal way then great. It's the welcome for my team and it's brilliant."
On beating Manchester City:"It's just a big job to do. If we wanted to go as far as possible, it was clear you would beat the best teams in the world. Man City are a special team and will be deserved champions of the Premier League. But it's not about being the best, it's about doing your best for the next game.
"Their confidence is high but we are in a good moment as well. They have a chance because they can win wherever they go but we can win to. I like difficult tasks because it is the most interesting. We must prepare from the mental and physical side. It's a big opportunity and we try everything to make it happen."
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