Manchester City vs Liverpool - Guardiola sees Liverpool clash as opportunity to close gap

Posted Thursday, January 03, 2019 by PA

Pep Guardiola views Manchester City’s crunch clash with Liverpool solely as an opportunity to revive their Premier League title defence.

The champions would fall 10 points behind Jurgen Klopp’s leaders if the Reds win Thursday’s eagerly-anticipated encounter at the Etihad Stadium.

Questions are being asked of City after they suffered three defeats in the space of four games in December but Guardiola is not entertaining the prospect of another loss.

Guardiola said: “The reality is clear, we are seven points down. I have the feeling it is a big opportunity for us to reduce the gap.

“We are going to focus on what we have to do to win the game. Everyone is talking if we lose, but what happens if we win? We are going to try to make our game and to fight as far as possible for our chance to win the Premier League.”

While City have stuttered in recent weeks, Liverpool have been in fine form, winning their last nine games. They thrashed Arsenal 5-1 in their last outing and Guardiola claims City are the underdogs.

He said: “It is Liverpool, with (Manchester) United, the best team in England in history. But we can beat them.

“I know today nobody trusts us, nobody makes one coin for us, but it is what it is. They are at the moment the best team in Europe, in the consistency, the way they control the details in their game. It is a good challenge for us if we’re going to reduce the gap.”

Liverpool beat City in three of their four meetings last season, including both legs of their Champions League quarter-finals.

Guardiola said: “I cannot figure out that what happened in the past is going to happen in the future. Every time we won a lot of games it doesn’t mean it will happen in the future.

“I have a feeling everyone can beat us but also that we can beat everyone. Last year we beat them 5-0 here – but it doesn’t count now.

“Of course if we win we will have more confidence, we will be happier than if we lose. We know exactly which opponent we play, the respect we have. That is the challenge.

“If we want to grow like a club, like an organisation and like a team, we have to face these kind of games with the pressure that means.”

City have a doubt over playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, who missed Sunday’s victory at Southampton with a muscle injury.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insisted Manchester City remain the best team in the world.

Klopp was keen to push aside the hype, saying he saw it “as a normal game against Manchester City”.

He added: “A very difficult one, one of the most difficult games you can play in the modern football world. We felt that plenty of times. It’s a really strong football team with an outstanding manager.

“We have to be prepared as good as possible, we have to be brave, we have to be full of desire, angry, like in all the other games.

“But with the knowledge the opponent is, for me, still the best team in the world. Only the points changed, not the preparation for the game.”

Klopp expects the situation to fire up City, saying: “If we would be 10 points behind, would the first thing I say be, ‘We’ll catch them’. Of course not, it’s difficult with the qualities all the teams have.

“But it’s January 3. It’s a very, very important game for both teams, obviously. I would use it as motivation for the other team. They will be ready and we have to make sure we are ready.”

Klopp highlighted the run to last season’s Champions League final, which they lost to Real Madrid, as the moment when a switch flicked.

“I think we got rid, finally, of the backpack when we reached the Champions League final,” he said.

“We didn’t win it, yes, but not 20 teams in the past reached the Champions League final. That was the moment when we did something really special. Since then it feels different.”

Klopp must decide whether to throw in James Milner, who missed the Boxing Day win over Newcastle with a minor muscle injury and returned to full training on Tuesday.

“He’s very, very important for us, of course,” said Klopp. “His influence on the team is massive.”