Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain admits the Champions League draw against Liverpool is a "difficult one" and says they will have to be "almost perfect" if they are to reach the semifinals.

Liverpool are the only side to beat City in the Premier League this season, having won 4-3 at Anfield on Jan. 14 in a game in which they led 4-1 until the last five minutes.

But City won 5-0 when the two sides met at the Etihad Stadium in September as Liverpool striker Sadio Mane was sent off in the first half for a high challenge on goalkeeper Ederson.

However, City have a terrible record at Anfield -- having won just once there in the last 37 years.

"It's a very difficult one. We like to travel and to go to another country in the Champions League but it is what it is," Begiristain said. "We know each other very well, they are a very offensive team, the truth is it is going to be a great couple of games and we are going to see good football.

"We are doing well in the league but is the same as always, you have to be right, in the Champions League there is no time for mistakes, everything has to work, you have to be almost perfect in both games.

Both sides have derbies in between the two legs with Liverpool away to Everton and City facing a potential title-clincher against Manchester United at the Etihad.

They have never met before in Europe with City only facing English opposition once before, when they lost both legs to Chelsea during the 1970-71 European Cup Winners' Cup.

Meanwhile, Liverpool manager said he was looking forward to the matchup, though he acknowledged City would be favoured to reach the semifinals.

"We are for sure not the favourites in this round, but in the last eight there are not a lot of favourites -- maybe two of them, Bayern and Barcelona -- but thank God it's football and nothing is decided," he told Liverpool's website.

"We have a few games to play until then, but I am really looking forward to it and we will give it everything."

Liverpool will host the first leg at Anfield on April 4, but Klopp said of the order of the draw: "In this case, it's not too important. For us, it's completely normal. We can get a result at home for sure, but it's obviously a difficult game -- but good news for both teams.

"It is like it is should be in the last eight. It was clear we would face a strong team. Now we have Man City. The good thing is they are the team we know most about. It's not too cool for England because now only one team can go to the semis. But we will try everything."

"We know the power and the strength of Liverpool -- in the league they beat us, we beat them at home."

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by Jonathan Smith

If you have any stories or news that you would like to share with the global online community, please feel free to share it with us by contacting us directly at [email protected]