Leicester City vs Manchester City. Carabao Cup Quarter-Final.
The King Power StadiumAttendance24,644.
Manchester City win 3-1 on penalties.
Watch Carabao Cup quarter-final live on Sky Sports Football from 7.30pm on Tuesday
Wednesday 19 December 2018 00:18, UK
Pep Guardiola has dismissed suggestions his Manchester City side's Carabao Cup trip to Leicester on Tuesday night could hand Liverpool an advantage in the title race.
Champions Man City are a point behind the Reds at the top of the Premier League after both sides won over the weekend.
Liverpool are now not in action until their next league game at Wolves on Friday night while Man City must travel to the King Power Stadium on Tuesday for a cup quarter-final.
Guardiola acknowledges the extra rest could benefit Jurgen Klopp's side but his mentality will not allow him to ease up, particularly with another trophy in sight.
"We could say yes," said Guardiola, when asked if the schedule assisted the Merseysiders. "But I'd prefer to be in the Carabao Cup than not.
"I cannot imagine going into a game thinking, 'Oh, it will be better to lose because then we'll have more time to rest'. I have never thought in that way.
"We're going to prepare as always to win the game, to try to reach the semi-final and then we'd have two legs to try to reach another final.
"That is the only way a club like Manchester City - who 10 years ago were not in this position - can grow up, and get better and better. And that's what we have to do."
Leicester have won just one of their last six fixtures in the Premier League but Harry Maguire think the spirit within the camp remains strong.
"Whenever you lose a game you're always looking for your next one and thankfully it's only in a couple of days," Maguire told LCFC TV.
"We'll prepare well for Tuesday, another big game, the quarter-final of the cup.
"Hopefully it'll be packed out at King Power Stadium and the atmosphere is buzzing, and hopefully we can put on a performance and get the result that warrants it."
Claude Puel is likely to rest Leicester players for the quarter-final clash.
Jamie Vardy played 90 minutes on Saturday after recovering from a groin injury but could drop to the bench against City. Puel has no new injury worries and could hand rare starts to Danny Simpson, Shinji Okazaki and Christian Fuchs.
Sergio Aguero could return for the holders.
The striker has sat out the last five games after suffering a groin injury but is fit again and was an unused substitute during Manchester City's victory over Everton on Saturday.
Playmaker Kevin De Bruyne could also be given more game time after returning from injury at the weekend while defender Danilo will be assessed after a knock. Goalkeeper Aro Muric could feature but midfielder David Silva and left-back Benjamin Mendy are out.
Manchester City are going after everything and they are coping well. On the other hand, there's something not quite right at Leicester. I watched them at the weekend and they are not quite at it now.
I think Claude Puel, in all honesty, is under real scrutiny whereas Pep Guardiola is sitting pretty and going well in all competitions. They've also got Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne on the way back and this is a good opportunity to get them some more game time.
I can only see this going one way, it's Man City all the way for me. I can see Jamie Vardy causing them a few problems in terms of his pace, his movement and his work rate but I think City will deal with it and come through this tie. It's all coming together for Guardiola and his side.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 1-3 (10/1 with Sky Bet)
