Pep Guardiola & Jurgen Klopp agree on what it will take for Man City or Liverpool to win the Premier League

The Manchester City and Liverpool managers know one slip-up could cost their sides in the final weeks of the season.
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Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp think both of their teams could have to win the final seven games of the Premier League season in order to finish in first place.

The Premier League’s preeminent pair, Manchester City and Liverpool, drew 2-2 on Sunday in what was a captivating contest at the Etihad.

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Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus twice put the hosts ahead in the first half, only for Diogo Jota and then Sadio Mane to equalise on both occasions.

The game was frenetic, relentless and exhilarating between England’s top two, and the draw means the title race is very much still on.

De Bruyne and Jesus were on target for Manchester City in the 2-2 draw. Credit: Getty.De Bruyne and Jesus were on target for Manchester City in the 2-2 draw. Credit: Getty.
De Bruyne and Jesus were on target for Manchester City in the 2-2 draw. Credit: Getty.

It leaves City first and one point clear of Liverpool, with the latter facing a tougher fixture schedule between now and the end of the campaign.

However, the Merseyside club have been in much better form across 2022, and had won 11 league games in a row prior to Sunday.

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Liverpool are more than capable of going on a similar streak between now and the end of the campaign, and potentially winning all seven of their remaining matches. At least that’s the view of Pep Guardiola.

‘One game could cost us’

Speaking after the game, City’s manager opined that one slip-up from City between now and the end of the season could result in them losing the league title. However, Guardiola insisted that view was not influenced by Sunday’s epic encounter.

Guardiola said City ‘left them alive’ at the Etihad. Credit: Getty.Guardiola said City ‘left them alive’ at the Etihad. Credit: Getty.
Guardiola said City ‘left them alive’ at the Etihad. Credit: Getty.

“We missed an opportunity to beat them,” the former Barcelona manager said. “It’s a feeling that we leave them alive.

“Winning, losing or a draw [today] will not end [the title race],” he continued. “Both teams know that today was massive and we played for that. The performance was great and we know it, against an opponent we knew we would fight until the end.

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“We know that one game dropping [points], we will not be champions. We have two competitions now and then I think Brighton and Watford [in the league], knowing that if we draw we will not be champions.

“It will be difficult, but for them too, also they have to win all the games too. We will see. Both teams tried to win the game and that’s nice to say that.”

Klopp knows it’s in City’s hands

Guardiola’s managerial counterpart echoed those words on Sunday, and acknowledged that the title fight is now City’s to lose.

Klopp said the champions are capable of winning all of their final seven, which he described as an ‘insane’ level.

Klopp knows seven wins may not be enough for Liverpool. Credit: Getty.Klopp knows seven wins may not be enough for Liverpool. Credit: Getty.
Klopp knows seven wins may not be enough for Liverpool. Credit: Getty.
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"I think we can describe it as a boxing fight, both arms down for a second and you get a massive knock. I liked a lot of things. I thought we were closer than ever,” he told reporters.

“Nothing changes for us, we knew it in January; we knew in January if we wanted to win it we had to win 18 games. If there was one we could draw it was today. We drew, now let’s see.

“What we have to be, we have to be as close to perfection as possible, to win seven Premier League games, which is insane. But that is the only way to beat this team, if it’s enough, because if they win them as well it’s difficult.”

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