Pep Guardiola believes fewer teams than ever are trying to attack Manchester City — and hinted he expects Manchester United to shut up shop on Sunday.

The Spaniard, 51, saw his side grind out a 1-0 victory at Everton last Saturday before listing the five Premier League teams who at least try to cause his team problems going forward.

Ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby at the Etihad — interim Red Devils boss Ralf Rangnick's first in charge — neighbours United were conspicuous by their absence in Guardiola's list.

When asked which teams play a low block against his side, the City boss said: "Maybe we provoke them but most of them except Liverpool I would say, Brighton I would say, Arsenal in some moments I would say.

"Let me think about it, maybe I’m forgetting someone.

"Aston Villa, we played there a little bit too. There are moments when they did it. But as a principle, when we make a good build-up, they sit.

"Leeds, as well. The rest, they sit back. But, honestly, I’m not saying it's wrong. Every manager, every team can do whatever they want, absolutely.

"It’s in our hands how to break them — teams that are high pressing, how to do it, and when teams sit back, how we have to do it.

"And one of the principles is be patient, don’t concede goals, don’t concede deep runs from them, counter-attacks and be patient and in the right moment we can do it. Let’s continue doing it like this."

City face Peterborough in the FA Cup fifth round tomorrow before the visit of United and Guardiola is not sure there will be any one-sided scorelines as the season reaches its climax.

He added: "Every game will be similar like we lived [at Everton]. For sure. It’s finished the games with big margins of goals.

"Everyone is playing for Europa League, for the Champions League, to be champion, every game will be a battle so we have spoken about that.

"It’s not the first time we’ve been in this situation and we have learned from that in the past. That if you want to be champion in the Premier League, against this rival — Liverpool, they are not going to drop points — you have to do your job.

"In nearly all the games. We felt it in the past and we have to do it this year. So it’s not an exception.

"That’s why I give all [Manchester City players] incredible credit — after three Premier Leagues in the last four years we could be more naive or more arrogant in our behaviours and it’s completely the opposite.

"So still we have the humility to go here and everywhere to try and do our game, to respect the opponents a lot and try to win the games."