Man City vs Bournemouth: Guardiola rejects ‘headline’ over Liverpool squad… and gives update on Rodri and Haaland
Pep Guardiola has spoken before Man City host Bournemouth
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has refused to answer a question about Liverpool’s squad depth and likened the Premier League to the NBA after a faltering start to the season by the established title rivals.
The Reds have triumphed on both occasions when Guardiola’s City have not been champions during the past eight campaigns, but the holders are seven points shy of leaders Arsenal and one behind the Cityzens ahead of the 10th round of top-flight matches this weekend.
Pep Guardiola on Arne Slot’s comments:
— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) October 31, 2025
"You will not have my headlines in the Daily Mail!" pic.twitter.com/TuCqvvYFVD
“You will not have my headlines in the Daily Mail,” Guardiola said after shaking his head in response to a request to compare City and Liverpool’s squads.
“I’m sorry. You will not have it.”
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Pep Guardiola: Premier League ‘like NBA’
After leading Liverpool to the 2025/26 title in his first season in charge, Liverpool manager Arne Slot is under pressure following a sixth defeat in seven matches in all competitions with a 3-0 loss at home to Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.
Slot defended playing a much-weakened team after the thrashing and repeated his suggestion that he has a relatively small squad to choose from despite lavish spending, although the Dutchman added on Friday that he is “completely happy” with his team and “all the quality we have”.
Liverpool were without eight players through injury against the Eagles, while £125 million signing Alexander Isak did not have a pre-season because the forward wanted to leave former club Newcastle.“I saw City’s line-up with no weekend starters but it looked like their best team… Chelsea can bring in Estevão and we finished with six under-19s” 👀
— BeanymanSports (@BeanymanSports) October 30, 2025
Arne Slot on Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace 🔴 pic.twitter.com/FYAaz7Okb3
"Maybe Liverpool and ourselves changed the dynamics because we were so consistent, reaching 90 points [in multiple] seasons," Guardiola added of the surprising start to this season's division.
"Maybe the Premier League is back to how it has always been. It's like the NBA, where there is not a dominant team... everyone can beat everyone.
"For the spectators, for the show, for the Premier League, it's really, really good."
Man City vs Bournemouth: Haaland fit, Rodri chance
Guardiola had good news on City's only two injury doubts for their home game against Bournemouth on Sunday.
The 54-year-old said midfielder Rodri could feature but will not start and expects Erling Haaland, who has 15 goals in 12 appearances in all competitions this season, to return after the striker sat out the 3-1 win at second-tier Swansea City on Wednesday, which sent City to an EFL Cup quarter-final tie against Brentford.
The second-placed Cherries are four points behind leaders Arsenal and on an eight-match unbeaten league run after winning 2-0 at home to Nottingham Forest last Sunday, when City's sequence of three top-flight wins ended with a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa.
"They have a fantastic team, manager [Andoni Iraola] and players," said Guardiola, calling opposition top scorer Antoine Semenyo "extraordinary".
"Their playing philosophy doesn't change. It's impressive. There is a lot of good work [behind Bournemouth's rise]."
Premier League fixtures this weekend
All matches start at 15:00 GMT / 11:00 ET / 09:00 PT unless otherwise stated.
Saturday, November 1
Brighton and Hove Albion vs Leeds United
Burnley vs Arsenal
Crystal Palace vs Brentford
Fulham vs Wolves
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United
Tottenham vs Chelsea (17:30)
Liverpool vs Aston Villa (20:00)
Sunday, November 2
West Ham vs Newcastle (14:00)
Man City vs Bournemouth (16:30)
Monday, November 3
Sunderland vs Everton (20:00)