Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said he will "sleep a bit better" after his "biggest rival" Jurgen Klopp rocked the football world with his shock decision to leave Liverpool at the end of this season.

UEFA banned City from European competition for two years in February 2020 for breaching its Financial Fair Play rules, but the ban was later overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The Spaniard, however, was not just waxing lyrical about the returning Belgian after a thrilling victory, he had warm words for Norwegian youngster Oscar Bobb whose goal from De Bruyne's assist secured the points in stoppage time.

The Belgium international came on as a 57th-minute substitute and set up a goal as the holders cruised to a 5-0 win over second-tier strugglers Huddersfield in a thoroughly lopsided clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

No club in English football history has enjoyed such a successful year.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said lifting the Club World Cup on Friday would be something his players can cherish forever as he played down the importance of the English champions' patchy Premier League form.

Manchester City's treble-winning coach Pep Guardiola and England women manager Sarina Wiegman are among the finalists for The Best FIFA men's coach and women's coach awards, world soccer's governing body said on Wednesday.

"As a manager I sometimes need that, I need that challenge," Guardiola told a press conference on Friday.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said he still feels his side are going to win the Premier League for a record fourth year in a row despite drawing their last three games.

Guardiola said he had a lot of admiration for fellow-Spaniard Emery.

"It's not the first time we are in this situation where we are playing good but results don't come."

"He [Venables] introduced something that had never been before," Guardiola said.

Liverpool snapped Manchester City's 23-match winning run at the Etihad as a clash between the Premier League's top two ended 1-1 on Saturday.

Liverpool will become the latest team to attempt to storm Manchester City's Etihad fortress this weekend as Everton focus on Premier League survival following a punishing points deduction for breaching financial rules.

Pep Guardiola's team have won all four of their Group G matches, ensuring their progress to the last 16 with two games to spare.

Messi won the award for a record-extending eighth time on Monday after leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar last season.

Haaland arrived in rain-lashed Bern without a goal in his previous five Champions League matches.

Pep Guardiola has denied tipping Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi to be his successor at Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola says Lionel Messi should have his own category at the Ballon d'Or but admitted the World Cup winner and Manchester City hotshot Erling Haaland would both be deserving winners of the prize.

Arsenal were Manchester City's biggest rivals last season and the London club will once again be contenders for the Premier League title, City boss Pep Guardiola said on Friday.