Pep Guardiola gives Liverpool verdict as Arsenal & Man City claim Premier League title advantage

Pep Guardiola has said Liverpool are still in the title race despite a damaging round of midweek fixtures for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Liverpool lost 2-0 in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday, 10 days on from a surprise slip up at home to Crystal Palace. It’s seen the Reds surrender the advantage in the title race, especially with Arsenal and Manchester City winning this week.

The Gunners recorded an emphatic 5-0 win over Chelsea on Tuesday to move top, while City beat Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 on Thursday. They trail the London club by a point in the race for top spot, but crucially have a game in hand, while Liverpool are three points off the summit.

The damaging loss at Goodison Park has led to some suggestions that the battle for first place is now a two-horse race between City and Arsenal. But that’s not the view of Guardiola, who feels there could be more twists and turns still to come.

“What happened to Liverpool, two defeats in the last three games, it can happen to us,” the five-time Premier League winner told BBC Sports. “It can happen to Arsenal. Every game is a history. 

“What’s important is that we are still there. We have a lot of games to play and difficult ones. When you go to play teams like Nottingham [Forest] who are fighting to stay in the Premier League, it is difficult. The opponents that we have are tough, but it’s relax, recover and all of the energy to prepare the game.

“There are five games left, we know the margins are so tight,” he added. “We try to win the next game, knowing every one that we are closer to try to do it.”

Meanwhile, Guardiola claimed on Wednesday that Brighton would be City’s most difficult remaining game this season, but the champions made light work of their trip to the Amex. Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden (2) and Julian Alvarez were on target in a convincing win for the Blues that also saw them increase their goal difference.

“We spoke as a team and said if we don’t have the ball we are going to suffer because it is not easy to take them,” Guardiola said after the game when asked about dealing with Brighton. “They have a lot of passes and the players did it really well.

“I give a lot of credit because I know the opponent we face. Brighton have struggled for a lot of absentees that they have had all season and even with that the principles and courage to play were there. If there is a team that never gives up, it is this one.”