Pep Guardiola says Man City’s rivalry with Liverpool ISN’T toxic ‘from our side’

Pep Guardiola denied that the rivalry between Manchester City and Liverpool has turned toxic, and apologized if the Merseysiders were offended by the away fans’ behavior at Anfield last weekend.

Liverpool gave City their first defeat of the season, but the game was overshadowed by Jürgen Klopp’s comments about City’s purchasing power – who City said was ‘excessively xenophobic’ in an anonymous briefing – and the Liverpool boss was subsequently taken off the field Sent off for harassing a linesman.

Guardiola was pelted with coins on the sidelines and Merseyside police are investigating allegations that the City team bus was attacked, while Liverpool accused City fans of ‘vile chants’ and graffiti related to the tragedies in Hillsborough and Heysel.

Guardiola asked before City’s game against Brighton at Saturday’s Etihad if City-Liverpool had become a toxic match, Guardiola replied: “I don’t think so.

“For our part, I’m pretty sure that [it hasn’t].’

In Sunday’s clash, City boss Pep Guardiola (left) was targeted with coins from home fans, while City also claimed an object was thrown at their team bus as they exited Anfield Road (right)

Liverpool are furious after an anonymous briefing from City alleging Klopp was ‘borderline xenophobic’ before the game because he said his side could not compete with the champions’ spending.

Klopp flatly rejected claims that his comments before Liverpool’s defeat to City were ‘borderline xenophobic’ and insisted he would ‘hate’ himself if that were the case when speaking to the media this week.

City doubled their stance after the 1-0 loss at Anfield, sending out the message that Klopp’s claim was ‘there are three clubs in world football that can do what they want financially’ – presumably City, Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle. prejudiced.

Klopp was told on Tuesday that he has resisted xenophobia all his life and he replied: “Absolutely. In this particular case, I don’t feel it at all.

‘I know myself. And you can’t hit with something that’s miles away from my personality. If I was (xenophobic) I would hate it. I would hate myself for being like that.

City fans have been accused of ruining the Anfield end and singing Hillsborough chants – something both clubs have strongly condemned

Guardiola (right) said City’s grudge match hasn’t turned toxic now

“I’ve often said things that were a little prone to misunderstanding. I know that.

“It wasn’t meant to be, sometimes you say things and think, ‘Oh my God! It can be interpreted that way!’ But this is not one of those moments. Absolute.’

Guardiola kept tight-lipped on the subject of Liverpool during his press conference on Friday, but did address allegations of insulting chants uttered from the end around tragedies involving Liverpool.

Merseyside police confirmed earlier this week that they were working with both City and Liverpool to deal with the string of incidents that took place during Sunday’s game.

“I didn’t hear the singing,” he said. “If it happened, I’m so sorry. It doesn’t represent who we are as a team or club if it happened.”

Jamie Carragher slammed at Manchester City on Friday over alleged comments about Klopp.

Writing in his column for The TelegraphCarragher said City had “descended to the level of the idiots on Twitter” and “crossed a line” with the claim, which Liverpool and Klopp vehemently denied.

City’s bus was previously targeted, with Liverpool fans throwing bottles and cans ahead of a Champions League game in April 2018

Jamie Carragher has hit out at Man City for their recent behavior amid feud with Liverpool

“Go on social media and the resentment being expressed between fans is toxic and exhausting,” he wrote.

“Every club has an unwelcome minority who let them down from time to time, whether they’re singing disgusting chants or throwing objects. They don’t represent an entire fan base.

In the wake of a game that should have been celebrated as the best the Premier League has to offer, a line was crossed last weekend when Jurgen Klopp was accused of xenophobia.

“With that briefing, City dropped to the level of the idiots on Twitter.”