Pep Guardiola knows that he can't have any of that in time for Sunday, and there is little chance of overtired legs recovering from the heavy workloads that have been forced upon the small group of players that have avoided injuries this season. What he can do is try to change the mindset to offset those factors.

Pep Guardiola has said he has to "prove himself" all over again after Manchester City's six-game winless run and added the only reason there are not more questions about whether he should be sacked is because he's won six Premier League titles.

With Manchester City mired in a six-game winless slump and facing one of their biggest challenges this season at Liverpool this weekend, manager Pep Guardiola said the onus was on him to prove he can right the ship.