Football Briefs: Guardiola sees Barca as Euro favourites

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After Manchester City continued their seemingly unstoppable Premier League rampage on Wednesday, manager Pep Guardiola was left trying to calm the growing hype by suggesting his old Barcelona charges still remain Europe's team to beat.

Even though City were wasteful and a mite distracted in their 1-0 win at Newcastle United, the fact that they still chalked up a record-extending 18th successive Premier League win with some comfort still told of their relentless excellence.

So, as Guardiola reflected on a 15-point lead at the top of the table, it was little surprise that he was asked afterwards whether City now had to be considered favourites for the Champions League as Europe's mesmerising form side.

"Who does (Lionel) Messi play for?" was Guardiola's response.

"Barcelona," came the reporter's answer.

"So they're the favourites," shrugged the manager.

Guardiola should know. As the man who oversaw Messi's flowering at the Nou Camp during a triumphant reign, he was once so enraptured on the touchline, he turned to a fan, saying: "If it wasn't for him, I'd be coaching in La Segunda (the second division of La Liga)."

Liverpool striker Sturridge suffers fresh injury setback

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said striker Daniel Sturridge has sustained a muscle injury and is likely to miss this weekend's Premier League clash with LeicesterCity.

Sturridge's injury problems have limited him to three goals in just 14 appearances across all competitions this campaign and the 28-year-old last played in Liverpool's Champions League win over Spartak Moscow on Dec. 6.

"Daniel Sturridge was ill and now (has) a little muscle thing. It's not a big deal, to be honest, but in this period all these things keep you away from games," Klopp told the club's website. (www.liverpoolfc.com)

"That's not too cool for us, of course, but since yesterday not a lot (else happened)."

The England international has been hampered by injuries throughout his career and has missed six previous league games for Liverpool this season due to illness and injury.

Fourth-placed Liverpool thrashed SwanseaCity 5-0 on Tuesday and host Leicester at Anfield on Saturday.

Milan alleviate crisis with extra-time cup win over Inter

AC Milan alleviated their crisis when Patrick Cutrone gave them a 1-0 extra-time win over neighbours Inter Milan in their Coppa Italia quarter-final on Wednesday.

Milan's third-choice goalkeeper Antonio Donnarumma, the older brother of regular keeper Gianluigi, played a key part on his debut for the club.

Gianluigi Donnarumma was ruled out with an injury on Wednesday morning and second-choice Marco Storari, 40, pulled out during the warm-up.

Both teams had lost their last two Serie A games and big-spending Milan were in crisis mode after dropping to 11th in the table, sixteen points behind third-placed Inter.

Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso said the match was as important as a World Cup final after seeing his side lose three out of six games in all competitions since he replaced Vincenzo Montella in the hot seat.