Man City manager Pep Guardiola apologises to Liverpool FC and addresses fallout between two clubs

Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City have not made their rivalry with Liverpool toxic, but he did apologise for chants from the away end at Anfield last week referencing tragedies involving the Merseyside club.

Some City supporters sang songs referencing the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters during the game and the club hadn't apologised publicly for that until Guardiola's pre-match press conference ahead of this weekend's game against Brighton.

Guardiola said he hadn't heard the chants but that he was sorry for it, while he was also asked about a series of incidents that occurred off the pitch last weekend.

Guardiola had coins thrown at him after protesting against City's disallowed goal early in the second half and City's team bus was allegedly attacked as it left the stadium after the game.

The Blues were also furious at Jurgen Klopp's pre-match comments that City had financial backing that allowed them to "do whatever they want" and that no club could compete with them.

It's all led to another bitter fall-out after the game and suggestions that the rivalry between the two clubs, especially off the pitch, is becoming toxic.

But Guardiola refuted the suggestion that it was at that level, especially from City's side. "I don’t think so. From our side, I’m pretty sure it hasn’t," he said.

He did apologise for the chants from the away end last week, insisting it didn't represent what the club is about. "I didn’t hear the chant, if it’s happened I’m so sorry. It doesn’t represent what we are as a team and as a club if this happened. But don’t’ worry, we can behave [own] perfectly our mistakes, without a problem."