Man City boss Pep Guardiola snubs Arsenal with title verdict ahead of Liverpool showdown

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists that Liverpool are still his team’s biggest challengers for the title despite their poor start to the season.

That’s despite Arsenal making a lightning start to their own campaign, sitting top of the table after nine matches with Liverpool trailing a full 14 points behind. 

City remain the only side yet to lose in the league this season but they sit one point behind Arsenal with the table now taking shape. Comparatively, Liverpool have endured a shaky start with just two wins on the board thus far as their title hopes slip away. 

Guardiola doesn’t see it that way, however, having gone to war with Jurgen Klopp for most of his stint at the Etihad. Despite his prior association with Arteta, he seemingly feels as though the Gunners aren’t quite ready to crash the party. 

“[Liverpool always have been [Man City’s biggest challengers for the title],” Guardiola told reporters on Friday. “I know the quality they have. If it was like this with 10 games left, I would say I don’t think they can catch, but now anything can happen.

“[Consistency is] our biggest achievement as a team, but everything can change immediately. Two months ago, Liverpool were fighting for a prestigious situation in English football. I analyse as a team always expecting the best of them.”

City, who could extend the gap with Liverpool to 16 points with victory at Anfield on Sunday, have lost the last two meetings between the pair.

The Reds beat them in last season’s FA Cup semi-final before lifting the Community Shield in August. Guardiola saw aspects of both performances that he is demanding improvement in.

‘In the last two games we were a little bit soft,’ he said. ‘You have to win duels. When they push you, you have to push. The semi-final of the FA Cup it was tough to recover from the Champions League (quarter-final against Atletico Madrid).

‘You have to behave at a top, top level. Being active in the second balls and many things. In Anfield, we are not losing without personality. I had the feeling that we behave really well in Anfield.

‘The opinion I have of Liverpool is that nothing changes with the situation in the table. Liverpool were fighting for four unprecedented titles. 

‘They couldn’t achieve something because of just two little details. This is the same team. We will have bad moments. It’s the nature of the competition.’