Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on the age of his players and whether some were getting too old to perform at the top level: "Nope, it depends on the performance. There are players that are 23 that did not perform good. My analysis is we're not getting results because we haven't had many players. I would not say this is much different to a few months go. It always depends on the performance. I said I'm here but it depends on the performance, if I don't perform I won't be here.

"Tell me one team in the world that does not drop. I could never blame one player here. There's a lot of minimal factors that are the reason. If it was one reason I would take it, but it's not as simple. Right now, the most important thing is not tactics, it is to win a game on desire."

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Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on whether he relies too heavily on Erling Haaland for goals: "We have four or five wingers, but we only had one. Phil was excellent in that position but he's struggled early with niggles and little things. Kevin has been injured. That is the reality and we have to adapt.

"We are lucky to have Erling. Every game, he has three or four chances. One day he scores two or three."

Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola: "Prepare for the next game, try to beat them, which is Feyenoord. I don't know any other say. It's the same as winning seven games in a row? What should I change? Impossible. The players have played a lot of minutes, we have players who are injured. It's unusual.

"Just because this team won a lot, a lot, a lot for many, many, many years. I think in the situation, we have to go direct to our principles, change less more than ever. We create a lot of chances. We're not winning the duels. We have to run backwards because our first centre-backs are not there. Rodri is not there.

"We normally play four central defenders, but we have injuries, we had to play Gundogan, our best attacking midfielder, as a defensive midfielder because of injuries. We created enough chances. What do we have to do? Insist. If not Tuesday, next Sunday. If not, the next game. We keep trying."

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Manchester City

Pep Guardiola is talking. Click on the play icon at the top of the page to listen.

He kicks off by turning a question about what changes he should make back on BBC Sport's Simon Stone, asking what he thinks he should change in his side.

The Spaniard says he is only concentrating on preparing his players to beat Feyenoord and believes the current run of bad form - five consecutive defeats - "will pass".

...and here is the bottom 18 of the Champions League table.

Teams that finish from ninth to 24th after eight games will go into an extra play-off round.

Those that end up 25th or lower will be eliminated.

Here is the top half of the Champions League table.

Remember, the top eight after eight games will qualify automatically for the last 16....

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

A warm welcome from Manchester City spelled out in huge letters above the press conference table.

City will be looking to erase the memory of their last Champions League game, the 4-1 defeat to a Sporting side managed by new Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim, against Feyenoord tomorrow night.

That result dropped City out of the top eight, which they need to be in to secure an automatic place in the last-16, which takes place in March.

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Manchester City

Manchester City centre-back John Stones was forced off at half-time on Saturday, during their 4-0 defeat at home to Tottenham.

He had just returned from injury after missing England's wins over Greece and the Republic of Ireland in the Uefa Nations League earlier this month.

Jeremy Doku, Mateo Kovacic, Oscar Bobb, Ruben Dias and Rodri all missed that loss to Spurs.

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Manchester City

There is not let-up for Manchester City, with the fixtures coming thick and fast for the defending Premier League champions.

They host Dutch side Feyenoord on Tuesday in the Champions League, and we will hear from Pep Guardiola shortly, as well as Belgian playmaker Kevin de Bruyne.

You will be able to follow their pre-match news conferences by clicking the play icon at the top of this page.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

We are used to one club in Manchester being in crisis.

In recent years it has almost always been the one that plays at Old Trafford.

Yet even Manchester United don't lose five matches in a row very often.

It has never happened to Pep Guardiola before - and not to Manchester City since 2006, when Stuart Pearce was in charge.

Guardiola has already said he "trusts" his players to correct the situation, but the answers are not going to be easy given some key men, specifically Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, are out injured.

Kevin de Bruyne has also spent a long time on the sidelines - starting just 19 Premier League games out of 50 since the Champions League final in 2023.

The Belgian is due to speak shortly ahead of tomorrow's game with Feyenoord.

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Don Hutchison
Ex-Liverpool midfielder on Football Daily

Against Tottenham they [Manchester City's older players, such as Ilkay Gundogan] couldn't get around the pitch. There was no energy, there was no urgency. For a footballer, doubt is the worst thing you can have in your brain when you are out of form - do you press or stay in your position? I am watching Man City now and they are struggling massively when I never thought these players would struggle. The legs in some of them are deserting them big time.

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Manchester City

• Manchester City are the first reigning top-flight champions to lose five games in a row in all competitions since Chelsea in 1956 - Chelsea finished 16th that season
• Saturday's 4-0 loss at home to Tottenham was City's biggest ever defeat at the Etihad
• It was also their first defeat at home in 53 games.

Mark on X: What are FSG waiting for? Do they need a pen? I have lots of pens. They can borrow a pen. Get that contract in front of Mo and signed.

Stepan: Hi Phil, do you think Man City are experiencing a temporary post-success come down, in the same way that Liverpool had a less than stellar season following their quadruple chasing season? It is difficult to keep the same level sustained for so long, mentally let alone physically.

Hello, Stepan. I think there is something in that because even the greatest teams and players will find it difficult to maintain the intensity and success Manchester City have enjoyed for so long. Their standards have been so incredibly high that any drop off, particularly the sort we are seeing now, will come under fierce scrutiny.

I do also think the time comes when any team, whether it is Manchester City or as Jurgen Klopp did at Liverpool with his so-called “Liverpool 2.0” at the start of last season, needs a refresh and perhaps City are at that stage now.

Manchester City’s squad is full of quality but also has a lot of players in their 30s such as Kyle Walker (34), Ilkay Gundogan (34), Kevin De Bruyne (33) among others.

The good news is that Pep Guardiola will be there for the next two years to oversee any transition.

And no…I am not writing them off winning prizes this season. They are too good to dismiss lightly – although I think if they lose at Liverpool next week the title has gone for them.

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Daniel Austin
BBC Sport

Maybe the much-lauded data analysis personnel at Liverpool are concerned that Mohamed Salah’s performances may drop off if he signs another three-year extension, which would take him to the age of 36.

Or perhaps Liverpool are biding their time because they know that agreeing a deal with Salah would give Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold a yardstick for the type of salary they should demand in their own respective contract negotiations.

Whatever the reason, public uncertainty over the future of a player who remains among the world’s very best and who ranks very highly in the pantheon of Liverpool legends, could risk compromising a season that has started marvellously under Arne Slot’s stewardship.

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Daniel Austin
BBC Sport

Mohamed Salah had a point he wanted to make outside St. Mary’s.

Reporters often wait near the team coach and try to talk to players before they head home – at Liverpool, confident characters who are native English speakers like Andy Robertson are most likely to stop.

It is exceptionally rare that Salah has spoken to journalists before boarding the coach.

He did so this time knowing exactly what he would be asked about.

Salah’s responses are his way of making sure the public is clear about his frustration with Liverpool’s lack of urgency to resolve the situation.

The determination with which Salah has started the season, the stellar physical condition he is in, and his urge to force Liverpool’s hand all make clear that he believes he has much longer left at the very top of the game in Europe.

The evidence strongly suggests he is right.

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Joe: If Liverpool were to only sign one of the three (Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk or Mohamed Salah), which do you think should be the priority? Obviously, Trent has age and value on the other two, but maybe not quite the same level of importance to the team - game in, game out.

Hello, Joe. The ideal would be for all three to sign, but as you asked me, I would make Salah the priority if I had to choose one.

Salah is world class, one of Liverpool’s modern greats, who is playing at the peak of his powers, even at 32, and is in magnificent physical condition. He is a match winner, a game changer, both as a creator and scorer. In my view he is irreplaceable in this Liverpool team.

I was stunned to hear him say he has not had a new contract offer from Liverpool’s owners. Obviously his age will be a consideration but how much would it cost to sign someone anywhere near his calibre as a replacement?

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Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Matt Davis, vice chairman of the Foxes Trust, understands the need for the players to let off steam but appreciated the optics looked bad.

"I think it’s unwise, it’s not helpful to be seen partying after another defeat," he said.

"From a fans’ perspective, I didn’t feel like doing anything on Saturday, I felt really dejected. That’s because of the passion for the club. You hope it’s the same passion from the players.

"It doesn’t forge good relations [with the fans], it gives the impression of not caring – which I’m sure is not true – but I get they have a life outside of football.

"I don’t think an apology is owed, but it’s about drawing a line in the sand and galvanising for the next manager."

BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Darren Fletcher spent time with Steve Cooper on Saturday after Leicester's defeat at home to Chelsea.

He told the Football Daily podcast that it was a surprise to find out on Sunday that the Foxes had sacked Cooper after just 12 games in charge - but said that there was a feeling of "disconnect" between fans and manager.

"There was no indication yesterday that any kind of change was afoot," said Fletcher on the Premier League Review.

"There was people from high up in the club who came in and out of the room. Everyone seemed in a really good mood…I mean they weren’t jumping through hoops and firing off party poppers, but everybody was civil, everyone was fine. I couldn’t foresee any problem, and I was really shocked when I saw that Steve had been relieved of his duties."

But he added: "The flip side of that I would say, having been in the stadium, you could feel the disconnect between the manager and the supporters. You could feel that, that was obvious."

Image source, Getty Images

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Leicester's players have been criticised by supporters after going to Copenhagen for their Christmas party at the weekend.

The squad flew to Denmark immediately after Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to Chelsea - 24 hours before Steve Cooper was sacked as manager.

It was their pre-planned Christmas party, signed off by the club, and Copenhagen has been a regular destination for the Foxes over the years. They held fancy dress parties in the city in 2015 and 2019.

A video has emerged on social media - which has not yet been verified by BBC Sport - of the squad partying in a Copenhagen club.

Someone appears to be holding a sign near the squad saying 'Enzo I miss you', referencing former manager Enzo Maresca, who joined Chelsea in the summer.

It is not clear who put the sign up and whether the players were aware of it. BBC Sport has approached Leicester and several player representatives for comment.

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