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Rob DawsonReporter
Pep Guardiola has said he still believes Liverpool will City of ManchesterThis season’s main title challengers and have told their players they must step onto Anfield on Sunday after being “soft” in their last two games against Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Klopp has said Liverpool are not in the race to lift the Premier League trophy after winning just two of their first eight games.
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City are already 13 points ahead of Liverpool in the table but Guardiola says it is too soon to wipe them out after coming so close to winning an unprecedented treble last season.
“Always so, always so, and always will [the main challengers]”, Guardiola said at a press conference on Friday.
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“I know their qualities, the character.
“Two months ago, Liverpool fought for a situation unprecedented in English football, fighting for four titles. They won two and lost. [the league] by a point
“They may have achieved something that an English team has never achieved. This is the same team, the same manager and the same players.”
City have lost their last two matches against Liverpool – the Community Shield in July and the FA Cup semi-final last season.
Guardiola accused his players of being “soft” in both games but was expecting a better performance on Sunday.
Erling Haaland fit after he sat out the 0-0 draw with Copenhagen on Tuesday but John Stones, Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips are still outside.
“Perhaps in the last two games we have softened a bit,” said Guardiola.
“You have to win the duels. When they push you, you have to push, you have to be there. The FA Cup semi-final was tough, after an incredible effort in the Champions League, and At Community Shield, we weren’t ready. .
“They’re one base higher, you can’t do that against this team.”
