Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola took a subtle swipe at Liverpool’s Premier League record after the Sky Blues thrashed Newcastle to go three points clear on Sunday. The Reds slipped up against Tottenham earlier within the weekend, and Guardiola appeared sour over the country’s apparent support for Jurgen Klopp’s men as they strive for an unprecedented Quadruple.
City bounced back from a crushing Champions League defeat against Real Madrid to batter the Magpies on the Etihad. Rodri, Phil Foden, Aymeric Laporte and two Raheem Sterling goals sealed the three points in style, successfully capitalising on Liverpool’s earlier slip-up.
Klopp hit out against Tottenham’s defensive game plan on Saturday, which earned Antonio Conte’s side a 1-1 draw, and Guardiola equally completely happy to shoot from the hip as he spoke of the country and media’s support for Liverpool within the Premier League title race.
“Everyone on this country supports Liverpool, the media and everybody,” said the Spaniard after defeating Newcastle. “After all, because Liverpool have an incredible history in Europe.
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“Not in Premier League because they’ve won one in 30 years, but it surely’s not an issue in any respect. The situation is what it’s. We’ve got to get nine points or possibly six immediately. It relies on what will occur in the subsequent two games by way of goal difference.
“It’s Wednesday [against Wolves] that’s the actual, real, real final for us. Our destiny is in our hands. Liverpool, alongside Manchester United, are the necessary teams in all history by way of titles, history, drama. For the reason that last 10 years now we have been there. I do know we’re sometimes uncomfortable, but I don’t care. If the people want Liverpool greater than us it’s not a difficulty.
“We are able to lose a game and so they can win all their games so goal difference is significant immediately. They’ve the threat and quality up front to do it. Now it’s not about that, it’s Wolves.”
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Indeed, there is probably not an enormous amount of malice behind Guardiola’s subtle dig, although he was not exactly prompted to indicate Liverpool’s historic Premier League misfortune. The previous Barcelona boss recently branded Klopp as ‘the good rival in his profession’, and large respect has flowed each ways in the course of the Reds’ clashes with City this campaign.
While Liverpool have needed to make do with just the one title within the last three many years, City have been accountable for a few of their near-misses in recent times. Last campaign they were struck by injuries and finished third, while in 2018/19 they were pipped by the Sky Blues by a single point after a classic race for the crown.
City hold the league’s destiny in their very own hands, even when tough trips to Wolves and West Ham are next on the agenda. Liverpool will depend on a slip-up from Guardiola in the event that they are to swoop in and complete their comeback.
But Klopp’s side even have the small matters of FA Cup and Champions League finals to contend with which could affect their final three Premier League matches.
