Pep Guardiola has admitted that Manchester City cannot currently measure themselves against Liverpool’s success.
Both sides will aim to close the gap on leaders Chelsea at the Premier League summit when they face off in their New Year’s Eve encounter at Anfield.
City previously pipped the Reds to the title in the 2013/14 campaign as the latter’s wait to be crowned champions ticked over into a 25th successive year.
But Guardiola insists that his side have to take a measured approach instead of trying to stack up to Liverpool and Manchester United’s dynasties of success.
He said: “This is an historic club but it is a new club in terms of the targets.
“Of course City cannot compare right now with what Liverpool did and United did in the last 30, 40 years.
“Do it step by step – that is the best way to getting better.”
Guardiola is already no stranger to Anfield after experiencing defeat as a Barcelona player in the 2001 UEFA Cup semi-final.
The City manager, 45, returned to the stadium for a sneak peak at Jurgen Klopp’s side during their 4-1 rout over Stoke and admits the home crowd will have a strong bearing on Saturday’s showdown.
“I don’t know what will happen,” he added.
“We have to equal their intensity. Anfield is going to play a big role for them.
“But what happened in the past stays in the past.”