Manchester City midfielder Rodri says they can handle the occasion of today's clash with Liverpool.

City host Liverpool in the early kickoff today.

“The rivalry is always there, no matter what the situation is of each team. It has always been a big rivalry in the last few years," said Rodrigo.

“I think it is going to be one of the toughest games of the season.

“We need to show the best version of ourselves again because we are in the situation where we must win every game. It is going to be a final.

“My first game for City was against Liverpool in the Community Shield which we won.

“Of course, that year they won the Premier League, then we won it the next few years. They have an unbelievable team.

“We are always fighting against them and have had lots of big games at the Etihad and Anfield. There are lots of memories in the last few years."

On Arsenal swapping places with Liverpool as City's main title rivals this season, Rodri said: “It seems like they just changed shirts! The fact they are having the same performance with consistency in the league.

“Liverpool is always there. I always say this every year, but they are very competitive with Klopp, and they showed the level.

“Maybe this year they struggled a bit, but they are always competitive, and we have to be aware tomorrow.

“The level of the league is like this. If you drop a little bit, the level, and the results, it can happen.

“That is why Pep always says it is not normal that we are there all of the time.

“That is why we have to keep going and every year we have to keep trying to improve to meet the standards to be there and fight again, but it is not easy.

“We always have to be the best version of ourselves if we want to fight again."