Pep proud as ‘fearless’ City saves title bid

MANCHESTER, England — Pep Guardiola saluted his “fearless” Manchester City stars after the champion kept its English Premier League title bid alive with a 2-1 win over leader Liverpool on Thursday.

Guardiola’s side had virtually no margin for error as a defeat would have left it 10 points behind the Reds and in danger of surrendering the title it won in record-breaking fashion last season.

But it rose to the challenge in thrilling style, beating Liverpool for the first time in five meetings thanks to Leroy Sane’s superbly worked second-half strike.

Sergio Aguero had put City ahead in the first half and although Roberto Firmino equalized after the interval, City held its nerve with a courageous display that had Guardiola singing his players’ praises.

“I am proud of them. We knew that it was a final today, if we lose it is almost over,”

Guardiola said.

“All credit to these incredible players. We had a lot of pressure but we were not scared, we had no fear.

“We beat an incredible team. We were outstanding from the first minute. Liverpool don’t concede goals, and we scored two. We played with courage, so aggressive in our pressing.

“We are happy for this victory to reduce the gap. Everything is open.”

Guardiola reserved special plaudits for Aguero after the Argentina forward squeezed in his 250th career league goal from a tight angle with a sublime 40th-minute strike.

City’s all-time leading scorer has now netted in all seven of his home league games against Liverpool.

“We need Sergio Aguero in these games, his quality makes the difference,” Guardiola said.

“To win these games, he has done it all his career and his finish was incredible.”

Aware that a defeat would have put the champion in deep trouble in the title race, Guardiola urged his players to use their vital victory as a springboard to pile further pressure on Liverpool.

“Now we are four points behind them and they are the leaders. We have to fight a lot, but this gives us a lot of confidence,” he said.

“We knew if we won we would be in contention to fight for the Premier League, if we lose it is over.

“I don’t remember a league so tough, there are so many huge contenders fighting for the title. It is closer, every game is a final.”

With no more league meetings between the sides to come, Liverpool’s destiny remains in its own hands, but Jurgen Klopp’s side will now have the pressure of having a City side that romped to the title with a record 100 points last season on their tails.

“If somebody had told me after both games against Man City we would be four points up, I would have paid money,” said Klopp.

“We want to finish the season as strongly as possible and we are still in a pretty good position.”