Pep Guardiola differs with Jurgen Klopp’s title assessment ahead of Man City clash vs Liverpool clash
Despite their slow start to the season, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists Liverpool remain his team’s main title rivals this season.
The Reds are currently tenth in the table, having collected only ten points from their first eight games, and are already 13 points behind last season’s champions – albeit with a game in hand.
On Sunday afternoon, the two clubs will meet in the Premier League for the first time this season.
Even though the Reds are a long way behind his team at this early stage of the season, Guardiola is well aware of the threat they still pose.
During a press conference on Friday, the Catalan was asked if he considers Liverpool to be City’s main title rivals this season.
“Always have been and always it is and will be, yeah. I know the quality they have and they know the quality we have,” said Pep
“If we get this question with 10 games left, I would say I think Liverpool cannot catch the top of the league, Arsenal. But with the World Cup, anything can happen. In the last years we fought for all the titles and were close. We were a little bit better, especially in the Premier League. But nothing changes the opinion I have of them.
“A table never plays a team,” he added in Friday’s press conference. “The game will be dictated by what happens on the pitch, not that we are in front or behind [in table]. [It’s] always difficult and has been in these years we arrive together. Tough game, we won’t discover anything else that’s special.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, on the other hand, is less optimistic about his team’s title chances this season.
Speaking recently, the German boss said: “Does it look at the moment that we will be champions at the end of the year? Unfortunately not. But in all other competitions we’re not out yet. And nobody knows where we will end up in the league yet so let’s just give it a go. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No. That’s enough. So let’s just go from here.”
Pep Guardiola differs with Jurgen Klopp’s title assessment ahead of Man City clash vs Liverpool clash
