Guardiola has unfinished business at Manchester City

Pep Guardiola says Manchester City are heading in the right direction after a significant rebuild, vowing he still has “unfinished business” at the Etihad, nine years into his reign.

For the first time since Guardiola’s debut campaign, City failed to win a trophy last season as they finished third in the Premier League.

City lost two of their opening three league games of the current campaign but have now gone seven matches unbeaten in all competitions, closing to within three points of leaders Arsenal.

“In 2035, I will start to think about it,” Guardiola, whose contract runs until 2027, joked when asked if he needs to take a break.

“I see things that we are doing much better than last season and in every game we are a little bit better.

“There is the margin that we can do better in many aspects and that gives me the energy that it’s not job done. It’s completely unfinished business. That’s why I am here.”

Erling Haaland’s scintillating form has been the key to City’s success so far this season.

Haaland has scored 21 times in 12 appearances for club and country, propelling Norway to the brink of a first World Cup appearance since 1998.

Guardiola believes that standard is “impossible” to maintain but said he and his City teammates have to step up when there is a drop-off.

“He feels really good, performance level not just in goals but many things he’s outstanding,” Guardiola said.

“Always what I said is it’ll drop, it’s impossible to stay there but I will be there, we will be there (to support him). We have this passion to help the team, and sustain in the bad moments.”

City’s opponents on Saturday, Everton, will be without their key player as Jack Grealish is ineligible to play against his parent club.

Grealish, who cost a club record £100 million ($134 million) when he joined City from Aston Villa in 2021, has been revitalised by a loan move to Merseyside.

“It’s what he wanted,” said Guardiola on Grealish’s move.

“His impact has been massive since day one. He is playing well.... He is a lovely, unbelievable guy, but he didn’t play for us for different reasons.

“Now he is back to real business, playing every game.”

Liverpool seek mojo against Utd: Liverpool will be desperate to recapture their spark against bitter rivals Manchester United this weekend but Ruben Amorim’s men will harbour hopes of pinching a rare win at Anfield.

The champions have lost just one of their past 14 Premier League meetings against United but have suffered three straight defeats in all competitions, with Arsenal now top of the pile.

Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou survived the international break but remains under intense pressure after failing to record a win in his first seven matches.

When Liverpool started this season with five straight Premier League wins, it appeared they were on track for a record 21st English top-flight title — which would take them one clear of United.

But problems they had papered over with a flurry of late goals finally caught up with them in defeats to Crystal Palace and Chelsea, either side of a Champions League loss at Galatasary.

Liverpool, one point behind leaders Arsenal, trolled United on social media this week, reminding them of the 7-0 drubbing they dished out in March 2023.

Mohamed Salah scored twice that day and has an eye-catching record against United, netting in 10 of the past 11 matches between the clubs in all competitions.

But the Egypt forward will go into the fixture searching for form while new signings Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak are struggling to make an impact. Arne Slot’s men are also shaky at the back.

United, without a win at Anfield since 2016, have come away with creditable draws from their past two visits.

Ruben Amorim’s men, wallowing in mid-table, will not scare Liverpool but they will likely have chances to exploit chinks in the home side’s armour.

Ange Postecoglou does not appear to be over-concerned about his position at Nottingham Forest despite a winless start to his reign at the City Ground.

The club, just one place above the relegation zone, host Chelsea in the early kick-off on Saturday.

It is a rapid fall from grace for Forest, who finished seventh last season under the now-departed Nuno Espirito Santo to secure European football.

But it continues a troubling pattern for Postecoglou, who endured a nightmare league campaign last season with Tottenham, which cost him his job despite Europa League glory.

The Australian said he relished a challenge after his team’s 2-0 defeat at Newcastle on October 5, just days after home fans at the City Ground called for his sacking.

“I’ve fought for things my whole life, so it’s just another fight that I love to be in the middle of,” said the 60-year-old.

Agence France-Presse