Pep Guardiola has jokingly suggested that he is going to play himself when his Manchester City side face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup next month.
City will host Jurgen Klopp’s side after defeating Chelsea 2-0 on Wednesday night. Liverpool progressed after defeating Derby 3-2 on penalties following a goalless 90 minutes between the two teams at Anfield.
The tie is scheduled to take place in the week that follows the conclusion of the World Cup. Both teams are set to lose players to the competition that starts a week on Sunday.
READ MORE: FSG have obvious €4.5m transfer to make whether they sell Liverpool or not
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp makes Liverpool transfer plan clear after FSG decision
Guardiola is unhappy with the scheduling, and when asked about his plans for the tie, he said: "When they come back, It depends how they finish the World Cup.
"We are going to see how many players we have and the condition. Then we will decide. It depends how they finish the time with the national teams.
"He's [Klopp] going to play at left-back, I'm going to play holding midfielder. This is the strategy. I don't know how many players we or Liverpool have."
Before he continued: "Riyad [Mahrez] unfortunately doesn't go, Erling [Haaland], Sergio [Gomez], Rico [Lewis]. The rest go to the World Cup.
“If they go qualify and through the group stage, last 16, quarter-finals, it depends on that, then they have days off. Players for their own selections don't go through from the group stages, they will be able to play against Liverpool and Leeds.
"If they arrive at the latter stages, we will see which condition they come back. After the World Cup, we're here to train. Liverpool game, 'How many players we have? These ones, okay', we are going to play.
"We will know when we take breakfast together, we see who we have. Now we have players training with the second team together.
“When we come back from Abu Dhabi, we stay here with the second team, train with them. Players come back, next game Liverpool, Leeds, day by day. I don't know which condition, how many players. Most teams have lots of players in the national teams."
READ NEXT:
-
John Henry 'next move' after FSG sale of Liverpool does not quite add up
-
Every word Jurgen Klopp just said on FSG sale talk and his Liverpool future
-
FSG's Liverpool 'risk' could explain sale decision as Boston fan frustration emerges
-
FSG set price at which they will 'listen to offers' for Liverpool sale
-
Liverpool one of six clubs 'outvoted' by other Premier League sides over key decision
