Manchester City midfielder Rodri admits the rivalry with Liverpool remains despite their recent struggles, with Saturday's meeting 'one of the toughest games of the season.'
City welcome Jurgen Klopp's side to the Etihad at lunchtime, looking to close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to just five points, before they face Leeds United later on today. The Blues have a game in hand over their rivals in a race that is likely to go down to the wire.
In recent seasons it has been Liverpool fighting City for the title, but a drop off in form and problems in their squad has them sixth and clinging on to the top-four race. Nevertheless, they proved with a 7-0 thrashing of Manchester United that they can still hurt top teams and Rodri is under no illusions about today's challenge.
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“The rivalry is always there, no matter what the situation is of each team. It has always been a big rivalry in the last few years,” Rodri told City's in-house media team. “I think it is going to be one of the toughest games of the season. We need to show the best version of ourselves again because we are in the situation where we must win every game. It is going to be a final.
“My first game for City was against Liverpool in the Community Shield which we won. Of course, that year they won the Premier League, then we won it the next few years. They have an unbelievable team. We are always fighting against them and have had lots of big games at the Etihad and Anfield. There are lots of memories in the last few years.”
City have witnessed a switch in challenger this season but are prepared for a run-in similar to that of the past few years, with Arsenal showing no signs of cracking under an unfamiliar pressure.
That Pep Guardiola's side have remained on top for so long is testament to their professionalism and consistency over six years, and Rodri admits his side must keep improving if they want to bring home a fifth title in that period come May.
“It seems like they just changed shirts! The fact they are having the same performance with consistency in the league, the Spaniard joked. "Liverpool is always there. I always say this every year, but they are very competitive with Klopp, and they showed the level. Maybe this year they struggled a bit, but they are always competitive, and we have to be aware tomorrow.
“The level of the league is like this. If you drop a little bit, the level, and the results, it can happen. That is why Pep always says it is not normal that we are there all of the time. That is why we have to keep going and every year we have to keep trying to improve to meet the standards to be there and fight again, but it is not easy.
“We always have to be the best version of ourselves if we want to fight again.”
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