Pep Guardiola claims the English media is desperate for Manchester City to slip up and for Liverpool to win the Premier League this weekend.

Having built my post-playing career as a TV and newspaper pundit, I can only speak personally about such an accusation and say this: Pep is right if he is including me in his list. I am desperate for Liverpool to lift the title.

I doubt this is a startling revelation. I played 737 games for Liverpool so it would be as pointless pretending where my allegiance lies as it would my colleague Gary Neville, or any former player working in the media affiliated to a particular club.

But as with Gary, this does not mean we look upon our former teams less critically, or speak more harshly about others. In fact, it is the exact opposite.

The praise for Manchester City’s performances over the past two seasons has been unequivocal and the most lavish I have directed at an English team or its coach.