Pep Lijnders will take charge of Manchester City in next month's FA Cup quarter-final against his former club Liverpool, as Pep Guardiola serves a touchline ban. The Dutchman, who worked alongside Jurgen Klopp in two stints at Anfield, joined City as Guardiola's assistant last summer after being dismissed by Red Bull Salzburg in December 2024.
Guardiola received his sixth booking of the season in City's 3-1 victory at Newcastle in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday night, triggering a two-match touchline ban. The City boss confronted fourth official Lewis Smith after Kieran Trippier fouled Jeremy Doku.
New regulations stipulate that Premier League managers are suspended for one match after three yellow cards, with six bookings ensuring a two-game ban. The ban applies only to Premier League and FA Cup matches, meaning Guardiola will miss this weekend's trip to West Ham and the cup clash with Liverpool, but will be present for the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal on March 22 and both legs of the Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid.
Lijnders, who contributed to Liverpool's Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and two League Cup triumphs, has rapidly become a trusted member of Guardiola's backroom team. He downplayed the fuss over his move to City before his first return to Anfield last month, noting that Klopp had urged him to accept the position.
