Guardiola: My hardest rivals Reds have it all

BY DAVID ANDERSON PEP GUARDIOLA claims Liverpool are the toughest opponents he has ever faced because they have “absolutely everything”.

Guardiola battled Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid with Barcelona, and Borussia Dortmund with Bayern Munich, but insists Jurgen Klopp’s team beats the lot.

Man City pipped the Reds by just one point in last season’s title race but have dropped five points in the first 10 games while Liverpool have won all five.

Guardiola will look to get back on track against Watford today but knows they face a huge task to overhaul Klopp’s men again.

He said: “The strongest opponent I have faced in my career as a manager is Liverpool.

“I said it when we were in front and when they were. They have everything – in positioning, in the counter-attack, set-pieces, transitions, and Anfield.

“I know how difficult it is and will be but that’s the challenge we have.”

City clawed back Liverpool’s 10-point lead at the halfway point of last season and Guardiola refuses to panic at being five points adrift of them following his side’s shock loss to Norwich.

He said: “After watching the game against Norwich I was not really upset by the way we played.

“We accept it. It doesn’t happen many times. I’m relaxed. When we lose, I’m not depressed. It’s going to happen. There are 99 points to play for, let’s see how many we can get.”