Liverpool missed out on Marc Guehi's signature at the end of the summer transfer window, and they come up against their former target when Manchester City visit Anfield on Sunday
Marc Guehi says he is looking forward to facing Liverpool in the first meeting with Manchester City since his failed Anfield move.
The former Crystal Palace stopper was on the verge of joining the Reds in the summer transfer window before the South London club pulled the plug on the deal. Guehi has since visited Anfield with Oliver Glasner's side in the Carabao Cup, however Sunday's meeting with Liverpool will be the first since his January move to the North West.
The Premier League champions were intent on waiting until the summer to reignite their interest in the 25-year-old stopper, when his contract was due to expire. However, City entered the race and made their move, signing the England international for a reported £20million in order to address their defensive struggles as Arne Slot's side decided that the finances were not feasible.
Liverpool are facing a crucial battle in their push for Champions League qualification and the visit of City marks another must-win in their final 14 Premier League fixtures.
Manchester United and Chelsea kick-off before the two English juggernauts lockhorns at Anfield on Sunday (4.30pm kick-off).
Guehi dismissed any extra significance on the trip across East Lancashire Road as he insists his failed move to Liverpool holds no extra significance.
He told Sky Sports: "I just feel like this is the place for me to improve. Just being here for two minutes, it feels like I've learned so much from every single person, the players, the staff and the manager.
"I feel like I've been filled with so much knowledge and it's exactly what I've been wanting for so long - it's great.
"It depends how the type of person you are, how you deal with different situations, for me I just like to be in the background. My face being everywhere isn't nice.
"You're at the football club so of course, football is on, 'ah my face is there.' It's fine because I've got good people around me, I just want to do my job."
Asked about the failed move to Liverpool and ending up at City, he added: "I've said in previous interviews that it wasn't up to me, it was God's plan and God's plan has been in full fruition so I'm just looking forward to playing a game, playing a top opposition and a great environment, do the best I can to get a win."
Liverpool did make a defensive addition in the window but will have to wait until the summer for the move to be completed after winning the race to sign Jeremy Jacquet.
Slot admitted that they tried to strengthen last month but to no avail. He said: "I think I've said that we've tried to strengthen the squad, so that probably tells you [I wanted players] and I don't think I was the only one who wanted that.
"But it's always about availability and the right player.
"We do have discussions about what is good for the short and for the long term of the club and now, for example, Jeremy Jacquet wasn't available for the winter, but he was for the summer.
"We've made a decision to sign him because we think he's a really good signing for the future of this club. I'm very happy with the squad. Let that be clear. But it's all clear and obvious, that we have three long-term injuries (Bradley, Leoni, Alexander Isak).
"That's why we've tried to strengthen the squad in winter break and the player you mentioned (Geertruida), in the end, wasn't available. But we've tried to strengthen the squad - that is clear.
"And that tells you that we think that it would have helped us. But it should be possible that we're not gonna sign players that are not good enough to play for this club."