Pep Guardiola admits he's grown 'lazier' as Man City boss explains why he's watching more of Arne Slot's Liverpool than when Jurgen Klopp was in charge

Guardiola has enjoyed many battles with Liverpool during his time at City but faces a different challenge this season with Arne Slot having replaced Jurgen Klopp at the helm. The Dutchman has enjoyed a perfect start to life at Anfield, winning his first three games of the new campaign to join City at the top of the early table on nine points.

Slot's arrival has also forced Guardiola to work a bit harder and watch more Liverpool games. The City coach has admitted to becoming "lazier" as he gets older but is now being forced to do his homework and keep a more careful eye on Liverpool's matches in a bid to understand Slot's tactics and plans for his team.

He told reporters: "When I play a new club in the Champions League that I don't know, I see much more than playing against Arsenal, for example. Of course I want to watch Arsenal a lot, but Mikel has been there four or five years. And before with Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool. Now I have to watch more Liverpool because of Arne: I don't know exactly what they do. But with Jurgen, we knew each other better. When I was younger, I watched much, much more than now. Now I'm lazier. I think I watch well enough to understand what the opponents want to do. I try to choose the right footage to show my players, to convince them of what to do to try and beat them."

City and Liverpool are not scheduled to meet in the Premier League until December which means Guardiola has plenty of time to take stock of Slot's Reds. Both teams will be in action this weekend, however, with City hosting Brentford and Liverpool taking on Nottingham Forest at Anfield.