Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has suggested that those returning from international duty at the World Cup will be in a better state than those who didn't feature in Qatar.
The reigning Premier League champions have quite the first game back as they take on long-term title rivals Liverpool at home in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. The visit of Jurgen Klopp's men will be the first time City have kicked a ball in a competitive sense since early November.
City saw their players get more World Cup minutes under their belt than any of their top six rivals and had 16 players make the trip to Qatar, with the Julian Alvarez going the full distance and winning the competition.
