PEP: WE MUST KEEP UP AT TOP

PEP Guardiola admitted his side cannot drop any more points before they host Liverpool in a New Year clash.

Manchester City trail Liverpool by four points after 18 games following a shock home defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday, giving Jurgen Klopp’s side breathing space at the top of the table.

If the January 3 meeting between the sides always looked as though it would be critical, it currently looks like a game the defending champions cannot afford to lose.

The Palace defeat has reminded everyone that it will not just be the head-to-head clashes that decide the title though, and the City boss says his side need victories from trips to Leicester and Southampton to round off 2018 and tee up the Liverpool clash. “We’re going to Leicester needing to win,” he said.

“Last season we dropped points and immediately won again. That’s what we have to do. We have two games away before New Year and we have to do that. When we win I insist they are calm and now it is the same.

“We lose a game, it happens, and focus on the next one.

“I saw them after the game and they are upset, sad - that’s normal.

“There aren’t many teams in the world that are happy when they don’t win the games.

“We have to see how our character is. We have shown many times that we react well and we’re going to try again.

“It’s always tough to win at Leicester, then Southampton. We’ll see what happens.”