Man City, Arsenal in Premier League supremacy battle

Former colleagues, master/ apprentice, and title rivals will go head-to-head at the Etihad on Sunday, in a match many have billed as a Premier League title decider.

...As Merseyside derby lights up Hill Dickinson Stadium

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager, disclosed that he is proud to be challenging Arsenal for the Premier League title.

He added that the title race is “over” with six games to play if City lose to Arsenal on Sunday but there are still “many things to do.”

A win for Guardiola and second-placed Manchester City would cut Arsenal’s lead to just three points, with a game in hand.

While a win for the Gunners might take the tally beyond Man City reach, extending Arsenal’s lead back to nine points.

Guardiola and Mikel Arteta’s relationship has cut across a range of strands over the years and evolved along with their managerial styles.

The Spaniards’ relationship started in 1997 when Arteta joined Barcelona’s academy – meeting his idol, Barca skipper and fellow midfielder Guardiola.

Their time as team-mates was brief, but a friendship was forged. That friendship will be put to the test later today when Man City host league leaders Arsenal.

Earlier on Sunday afternoon, Everton will be hosting Liverpool in the 248th Merseyside derby for the first time at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Reds would be looking to bounce back after being knocked out of the Champions League by holders Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on Tuesday.

While Liverpool controlled possession for spells of the second half, a failure to find the net enabled PSG to grab two late goals and complete a 4-0 aggregate victory.

The Reds’ sole objective now will be securing Champions League qualification, with Slot’s side holding a four-point cushion in fifth position ahead of their pursuers, which includes Everton, who sit a further point behind.

Liverpool manager, Arne Slot insisted that his side is ready for a derby battle against Everton and has restated his conviction that Liverpool will be an entirely different prospect next season.

Slot makes bold predictions for next season and hits back at Liverpool ‘doubts’ suggesting his team lack the physical appetite for Sunday’s Merseyside derby against Everton.

Slot insisted Liverpool is ready for a derby battle against Everton and has restated his conviction that his side will be an entirely different prospect next season.

David Moyes’s team thrashed Chelsea 3-0 in their most recent home fixture, with many Liverpool fans anticipating a stern test of their side’s physical and aerial prowess.

However, Slot has rejected suggestions that the Reds may lack the stomach for a fight against their rivals.

“If it’s true, would these same people have doubted how we would have performed against Paris Saint-Germain? Would they have thought they (PSG) are going to run over us and it’s going to be ridiculous?

Liverpool’s character has been questioned at various points this season, most notably when Virgil van Dijk claimed the side had “given up” during the humiliating 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester City earlier this month.

“I cannot change the height of my players, so that’s the first thing, but I think my players have shown throughout this season after all the setbacks we’ve had – and we have had a lot – that they were able to compete again,” Slot said.