Pep Guardiola accepts Manchester Metropolis will not be difficult Liverpool for the title this season however is satisfied they’ll nonetheless match them on their day.
After profitable the Premier League for the previous 4 years, Metropolis discover themselves in an unfamiliar place outdoors the race for prime spot this season.
But Metropolis can nonetheless have a giant say in issues and so they host present leaders Liverpool on Sunday in a headline encounter that has implications for the title image and the champions’ personal comparatively modest top-four goals.
Supervisor Guardiola will even be hoping to see a response from his aspect after their newest Champions League quest resulted in a bruising defeat to Actual Madrid on Wednesday.
• READ HERE: Man Metropolis vs. Liverpool: Workforce information, kick-off, referee and TV particulars
The Catalan mentioned: “I don’t suppose we’re in a nasty second – other than Madrid, who’re a greater crew proper now.
“The precedence, the Premier League, is massively essential for us and we did good video games.
“Even once we misplaced 5-1 towards Arsenal I’d say we performed a extremely good 60 minutes. Besides the primary 5, once we conceded the objective and gave away one other likelihood, the remainder was good.
“In different video games, for instance Newcastle, we now have been at a excessive stage.
“We are going to attempt to play recreation and take the factors that we have to keep up there to qualify for subsequent season to be the place we have been till final Wednesday.
“However Liverpool are a prime crew in lots of features. They misplaced only one recreation within the Premier League. That’s why it’s take a look at for us.”
Liverpool, underneath earlier supervisor Jurgen Klopp, have been one in all Guardiola’s chief title rivals.
New supervisor Arne Slot has picked up the mantle impressively since taking up final summer season.
Guardiola mentioned: “They’ve a consistency fairly related than with Jurgen. He deserves to be up there, near Arsenal combating for the title. So, huge praise.
“They’ve been the largest rival in my time right here. I couldn’t anticipate in a different way than Liverpool be within the place that they’re.”
Metropolis will verify on the health of prime scorer Erling Haaland after he missed the defeat on the Bernabeu Stadium with a knee downside.
