Guardiola dismisses notion that City are the favourites

MANAGER Pep Guardiola has shrugged off Manchester City’s newly-restored status as title favourites.

The champions are once again considered the side most likely to win the Premier League by bookmakers following Liverpool’s recent wobbles.

The Reds, who have drawn their last two matches, remain three points clear at the top, but City will overtake them should they win at Everton tonight.

Guardiola said: “Three or four days ago we were already done, the champions were Liverpool. And now we are favourites.

“Maybe in three days we will be leading or we could be six points behind.

“We try to be calm in this situation. There will be a lot of surprises and it will be tough for teams to win games. All the teams have the abilities and skills to create problems.

“What I’m more concerned about is to never forget who we are as a team. When doing what we have to do we are a strong team.

“That’s what I want to watch every single day. After we will see about the results, how the table is.”

Guardiola does acknowledge his side’s rearranged game against Everton – brought forward because of City’s involvement in the Carabao Cup final – does present an opportunity, however.

He said: “Goodison Park is always a tough game for us, but the approach is the same – going there to try to win the game and, of course, we have the chance, because Liverpool don’t play, to go top of the league.”

Victory would see City go top on goal difference, having played a game more than Liverpool.

Guardiola endured one of the low points of his reign when City were thrashed 4-0 at Everton just over two years ago.

He said: “It’s a long time since we lost there. I am not going to Goodison Park thinking about what happened in the first year.

“In the second year we made an exceptional performance there before we played at Anfield in the Champions League.

“Every game is completely different. The approach is to read what Marco Silva and his guys try to do and then win the game.”

Everton’s former Hull City manager Silva is under growing pressure after an indifferent run of form.

The Toffees were booed off after their 3-1 loss to Wolves on Saturday, their eighth defeat in 14 games in all competitions.