Pep Guardiola has suggested Tony Pulis’s Stoke side have inspired ­Premier League clubs to become more direct and place greater emphasis on set pieces. The ­Manchester City head coach says he will not change his ­principles but is open to ­turning Omar Marmoush and Erling ­Haaland into a more classical strike partnership.

City travel to Swansea on Wednesday night in the Carabao Cup fourth round, where they will face a Championship side eager to keep the ball. Long throw-ins and corners are becoming increasingly important in the ^­Premier League. Pulis used them to his ­advantage during his Stoke ­tenure in the late-2000s, helping the side defy the odds in the top flight.

“I remember a long time ago with Sean Dyche, Burnley were an incredible threat in the long balls, second balls,” Guardiola said. “Dyche is one of the best by far doing these kind of aspects. It’s not new, he did it before. Or Sam Allardyce. Or I remember when I was not here, Stoke City.

“Do you remember Stoke City when they made the throws? It happened in that time. Now it’s just more and more teams doing that but then maybe Stoke was the exception....