Pep: We need to beat Liverpool
Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City must beat Liverpool on Thursday to sustain their Premier League title bid.
City shook off consecutive defeats to coast past Southampton 3-1 at St Mary’s yesterday, with David Silva and Sergio Aguero on target and James Ward-Prowse netting an own goal.
That south coast victory set up a pivotal title battle with Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium, with second-placed City trailing the league leaders by seven points.
And City boss Guardiola has conceded only a win on Thursday will be enough to keep his side in the hunt to retain their crown.
“With the position of Liverpool, if we drop points then it is over, it is finished; it would be almost impossible,” said Guardiola.
“Of course they are going to drop points but not too many. If you want to be there as far as possible until the end we have to remember what happened last season, and this as well, apart from the last few days.
“We never forget who we are. Sometimes you have to kick your face, be a little bit stubborn and ask ‘guys, what happened?’.
“Maybe I’m wrong but all players everywhere want to do well. Sometimes you need to realise that wanting to do well is not enough. You have to try it again.”
Liverpool stretched their unbeaten start to 20 matches with Saturday’s 5-1 thrashing of Arsenal at Anfield, laying down the gauntlet to City.
Guardiola’s men had faltered badly with consecutive losses to Crystal Palace and Leicester, following shortly on from their 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
City eased past Southampton to close the gap on Liverpool and turn the second half of the season into a genuine title race however. And that left Guardiola pleased with his players’ response.
“We are not here to send a message,Liverpoolknowwhat they have to do, we know what we have to do on Thursday,” said Guardiola.