MANCHESTER (AFP) - Pep Guardiola is convinced Premier League leaders Liverpool will drop points between now and the end of the season as the Manchester City boss prepares for Thursday's (Jan 3) huge title clash with the Reds.
Guardiola's City side have been unable to keep pace with unbeaten Liverpool despite their own blistering start and sit in third place, seven points behind Jurgen Klopp's outfit ahead of their crunch meeting at the Etihad Stadium.
Liverpool have dropped just six points so far this season and come into the match on a nine-match winning streak in the league, but Guardiola is confident they will make mistakes amid a heavy domestic and European schedule.
"We are there, still with a lot of games to go and I think everyone will lose points this season, even Liverpool, because there are a lot of competitions," he told reporters on Wednesday.
"They have been incredible ... scoring four or five goals in every game. They are solid behind and in front." Guardiola feels his own team deserve credit for amassing 47 points in 20 league matches and is certain they will get opportunities to apply pressure on Liverpool after Thursday's match.
"We have dropped off sometimes but that is normal. During the season, sometimes you forget what you have to do," added Guardiola.
"You have to remember those things, and come back, and we have done it exceptionally well."
Liverpool have not won the English league since 1990, two years before the creation of the Premier League, and Guardiola believes that will be significant motivation for Jurgen Klopp's side, similar to what drove his own side to win last season's title with a record 100 points.
"My feeling is last season it was a little bit easier to maintain that hunger because 80 per cent of the players had not won anything in their lives.
"So I can feel what they feel, the Liverpool players. After 29 years not winning the title, to be there to win the Premier League, I understand it."
Guardiola also claimed that Liverpool's illustrious history, which includes 18 English league titles and has seen them crowned champions of Europe five times, will push Klopp's squad to match those achievements.
"When I was a little boy, I looked at the Premier League from Catalonia, from outside, and it was always two or three teams, and Manchester City were not there," he said.
"In the past decade our club has been incredible. Every time here in the past six or seven years, we have qualified for the Champions League.
"History is not 10 years, it's much more, it's longer, Anfield is Anfield, Old Trafford is Old Trafford, and the history is there and the Champions League titles are there. The players, when they put the shirt on, they know what they have to defend.
"Maybe in the next decade, the players will feel it when they come here. Our target is there now. It's to go higher and then higher than that - and that is what I want to maintain."
Mar 30, 2019 · Burnley boost survival hopes on landmark day for Sean Dyche with vital victory over Wolves Save called up the 19-year-old winger to train with his full squad before the win over the Czech
Burnley boost Premier League survival hopes with win over
Football: Guardiola hopes Champions League pain spurs on Manchester City MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Pep Guardiola wants the pain of Manchester City's gut-wrenching Champions League elimination at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur to inspire a charge for an unprecedented domestic treble.
Guardiola hopes Champions League pain spurs on Manchester
Sarri proved beyond doubt who's in charge at Chelsea by benching Kepa Blues boss brought in rusty reserve Willy Caballero - though the Argentine was untested in the 2-0 home win By Andrew Dillon
Catch-up: Fifa Women's World Cup - Argentina hold Japan to goalless draw Play video Argentina v Japan from BBC Sport Video Argentina v Japan BBC Sport 2:15:00 10 Jun 2019 10 Jun 2019
Dogged Argentina hold Japan to goalless draw - World Soccer Talk
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/06/10/dogged-argentina-hold-japan-to-goalless-draw/
Paris (AFP) - Japan failed to break down a determined and well-organised Argentine defence in Paris on Monday in the first goalless draw of the women's World Cup. Japan, finalists in 2015 and winners in 2011, enjoyed almost two thirds of possession, but only forced two saves from goalkeeper Vanina Correa.
Argentina hold Japan for historic first World Cup point
Villans ascend into EPL heaven. Aston Villa's John McGinn celebrates scoring their second goal that proved to be the difference in the Championship play-off final against Derby.
Villans ascend into EPL heaven - theworldnews.net
Football: Spurs back up to second after 3-0 win at Cardiff
May 31, 2019 · The United States and China must find ways to coexist before rising trade and security tensions spiral out of control, Asian political figures and experts say. "We are now entering into a period
China sets out grand plan to become world's soccer superpower
May 20, 2019 · Celebrations culminated with an emotional speech from outgoing captain Vincent Kompany, who hailed City as 'the best club in the world' before leaving to become player-manager at Belgian team
'I have lived the dream': Kompany's best moments at
Son contemplated Tottenham exit until discussion with Pochettino. Son contemplated Tottenham exit until discussion with Pochettino. patience in football is difficult but always it's about
Son contemplated Tottenham exit until discussion with
Sunderland assistant manager Charlie Oatway refuses to blame the club's misfiring strikers for leaving them bottom of the table at Christmas. Steven Fletcher, Jozy Altidore and even derby hero
Toothless' Saddle and Tail Fin | How to Train Your Dragon
Cardiff earn first away win with late Camarasa strike at Leicester Tweet. Share. View photos. Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Cardiff City - King Power Stadium, Leicester
Cardiff earn first away win with late Camarasa strike at
PODGORICA (REUTERS) - England recovered from an early scare in Montenegro as Ross Barkley scored twice in a clinical 5-1 victory to continue their strong start to the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign
England thrash Montenegro 5-1 after early scare - Reuters
Reaction after Liverpool win 3-1 at Bayern Munich to make it four English teams in the last eight of the Champions League. his touch past Gerard Pique takes the ball out of reach and he comes
Official Liverpool FC Store | Liverpool FC Ball
AD
store.liverpoolfc.com/ball
Report Ad
Browse Our Wide Range Of Exclusive Liverpool FC Souvenirs. Shop Online Now.
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen