Chelsea handed crucial advantage by Premier League schedulers as Pep Guardiola bemoans Man City's fixture list

Pep Guardiola fears Chelsea have been handed a crucial advantage ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Manchester City.

Guardiola believes the clash at the Etihad will be pivotal to the title race.

Which is why he was upset by the Premier League’s decision to force City to play Everton in between crunch games with Arsenal and Maurizio Sarri’s side.

City moved to the top of the table on Wednesday with a 2-0 win at Goodison Park in a game that was rescheduled due to the champions’ League Cup final against Chelsea later this month.

Guardiola believes it has eaten into his preparations for Sunday, while Sarri has had a free week to devise his strategy.

The City manager said: “We started well with Arsenal and Everton, but now comes a really, really big test - a big bull.

“Chelsea is an exceptional team with seven days to prepare that game. We will try. We have to prepare well. This is a real final for us this weekend.

“If we are able to take these points, we are going to take a huge step forward.”

Despite his frustration, Guardiola insists it is futile to complain to football’s authorities.

He added: “When I was in Munich or Barcelona, I always read or listened to old managers like Sir Alex Ferguson and Rafa Benitez. The managers always complained about their schedules and nothing happened.

Premier League table | As it stands

“That's why when I arrived here I said I understood the situation. If we would play just one competition our schedule would be easier and better. When we play four, we have to adapt.

“The Premier League say we have to play there on that day - we take the bus or the plane in the right time in the right moment and play that game.”