Man City players hold hands in training ahead of clash with Arsenal

Manchester City have the luxury of playing before title rivals Liverpool this weekend.

Pep Guardiola's men were at the club's training ground on Friday to prepare for Sunday's Premier League clash with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.

If City beat the Gunners, they will move to within two points of Liverpool, who visit West Ham on Monday night.

City's stars will be desperate to hold onto Liverpool's coat-tails in the race for title glory. But they were holding onto each other during Friday's session.

Players partnered up and held hands during a warm-up exercise.

Raheem Sterling warmed up with 21-year-old youth team defender Philippe Sandler, while Kevin De Bruyne was paired with teenage forward Ian Carlo Poveda-Ocampo.

Neither Sandler or Poveda-Ocampo are likely to be involved in Sunday's game as the stakes will be too high for Guardiola to consider blooding youngsters.

City have a strong recent record against Arsenal, winning on their last four meetings.

Benjamin Mendy trained on Friday after missing City's 2-1 defeat by Newcastle earlier in the week.