Guardiola takes snide swipes at Liverpool as PL title race boils over

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on Sunday took a snide swipe at title contenders Liverpool, after a sublime performance by his side in a 5-0 victory over Newcastle saw them take the reins in the Premier League title race.

Speaking during what turned out to be a feisty post-match interview, the Spaniard claimed that everyone in England wanted Liverpool to win, and even went on to take a dig at Liverpool’s 30-year-wait for a Premier League title.

Also read | Conte says ‘not easy to face these monsters’ after Spurs-Liverpool draw

“Everyone in this country supports Liverpool [in the title race], the media and everyone. Liverpool has an incredible history in European competitions [but] not in the Premier League because they’ve only won once in 30 years, but it’s not a problem at all,” Guardiola said.

“The situation is what it is, we have to do nine points or maybe six, it depends on what’s going to happen in the next two games. Our destiny is in our hands, this is important,” the Spaniard added.

Also read | ‘I can’t see it’: Klopp says PL out of Liverpool’s hands after Spurs draw

Indeed, City’s destiny is in their hands: the reigning champions of England, after being knocked out of Europe, find themselves three points ahead of Liverpool in the Premier League, with 35 games played each, and three remaining. The immaculate Citizens also have a goal difference of 68, four more than Liverpool, and that stat could come in handy if the season ends on a dramatic note.

City arguably have an easier run-in than Liverpool too, with Liverpool having to play the FA Cup final in addition to the remaining Premier League games, before they face Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final.

Also read | PL: Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Spurs gives Man City chance to go clear

However, Guardiola on Sunday confirmed that defenders John Stones, Kyle Walker, and Rúben Dias had been ruled out through injury for the rest of the campaign, leaving him with 13 players to do the job.

Despite the injuries, however, the odds of winning the PL are heavily in favour of Manchester City, but as Guardiola, quoting Johann Cruyff, had said during his time at Barcelona, “Football is a game of mistakes.”