Pep Guardiola has robustly defended his relationship with Kevin De Bruyne, dismissing claims by Gary Lineker and Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher of a rift following the Belgian's benching during Manchester City's 2-0 loss at Liverpool.

Neville branded the situation "bizarre and strange" while Carragher hinted at underlying issues, but Guardiola retorted: "People say I've got a problem with Kevin. Do you think I like to not play with Kevin? That I don't want Kevin to play?

"The guy who has the most talent in the final third? I don't want it? That I have a personal problem with him after nine years together?"

On the latest episode of The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker said: "De Bruyne came on again with not long to go when the game was pretty much done. Yeah, he nearly got a goal because of [Virgil] van Dijk's error, but is there something going on there, do you think? Because he's been coming on for five or 10 minutes, what, for about a month now?

"You would imagine he's getting fitter, even though I saw both of them - Pep Guardiola and De Bruyne - make interesting statements in the week, where it seems like all's not well between those two? I don't know. I've got no inside information whatsoever. The ambassador of Manchester City might, though... Micah (Richards)?"

Guardiola explained De Bruyne's limited playtime, noting, "He's delivered to me the biggest success for this club. But he's been injured for five months and two months. He's 33 years old. He needs time to find his best, like last season, step by step. He'll try to do it and feel better.

"I'd love to have Kevin in his prime, at 26 or 27. He would love it, too. But he's not 26 or 27 anymore. He's had injuries in the past, important and long ones. He's a guy who needs to be physically fit for his space and energy.

"But you think I'm complaining about that? It's normal, it's nature. He played a lot of games in 10 or 11 seasons. I know he's desperate to help us and he gives glimpses of brilliance that only he can have.

"But like I always said, he alone will not solve our problems. Like Erling Haaland won't solve it himself. We attack and defend together. We want the best players back. Hopefully, step by step, the confidence will come back and we'll get the best of all of us.

"I'm desperate to have his best. I'm desperate for five goals and assists from Phil Foden after last season. Five for Kevin, goals and assists from Jeremy, goals and assists from Jack (Grealish), from Savinho or Ilkay Gundogan.

"Not 20, 30 or 40. Just five goals and assists from these players and then we'd be top of the league. Why hasn't it happened? They were not here. They were injured. They weren't ready. This is the biggest problem I have."