A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
City are flying.. but Pep demands more
MANCHESTER CITY may have shattered a fistful of Premier League records on the way to the title last season.
But Pep Guardiola’s side are already threatening to raise the bar another couple of notches.
Unbeaten after 13 games, City remain two points clear at the top.
Bettering the 100-point total they set in May looks a real possibility.
They have hit the net 40 times, have a positive goal difference of 35 – and the new standards they set in two columns also look likely to fall.
But after seeing Leroy Sane score twice after two early strikes by David Silva and Raheem Sterling, the City boss believes it is the challenge being mounted from Anfield that can lift his men to even greater heights.
Guardiola said: “Liverpool have had their best start ever and this is a club with a huge history and with many Champions Leagues.
“How many titles do Liverpool have? Seventeen or eighteen?
“So know how tough it will be. After getting 100 points last season there were a lot of nice words written about us – and when that happens sometimes you don’t do what you need to do. What made me happy today was seeing Raheem and Leroy and Riyhad (Mahrez) running back to help our full-backs even after 60 and 70 minutes when we were winning 3-0.
“That is the only way we can compete after having 100 points. It is the only way to fight in four competitions.
“We want to do what nobody has done in the last 10 years – to retain the title.
“The demands are so high but we accept the challenge.”
City were ruthless. Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini may have won the title for them four years