Pep Guardiola uses the Merseyside derby as fuel for Manchester City's cruise | pep guardiola
Pep Guardiola said he used Liverpool's defeat to Everton as a reminder to his Manchester City players about the dangers of football before going to Brighton on Thursday night and won 4-0.
Twenty four hours later Liverpool's 2-0 derby defeatCity ran riot on the south coast, two goals from Phil Foden and one each from Kevin De Bruyne and Julián Álvarez ensuring they remained in control of their destiny in the title race.
Guardiola, who will take his team to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on Sunday, has them one point behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand. City are twice ahead of third-placed Liverpool, having played a game less, although Guardiola said they remain serious contenders.
“They are… what happened to Liverpool (at Everton), I told the players, it can happen to us,” Guardiola said. “It could happen to Arsenal. People don't expect (Liverpool) to lose against Crystal Palace and yesterday (at Everton), but it can happen. And to us.
“Everton are playing for the relegation zone, a game quite similar to the one we will have at Nottingham Forest, and they are playing for their lives. Maybe because they have been a real contender of ours for years… my appreciation for Liverpool is greater than ever.
“You see the game they tied at Old Trafford (against Manchester United), the opportunities they missed and yesterday (at Everton)… (Jordan) Pickford was exceptional. And the game against Crystal Palace, in the second half, the chances they missed… Don't tell me the reason. It's football. They are still there because I know the character of Liverpool, the institution and the team. They are going to fight until the end. We have to do it too.”
Guardiola said humility had to be the watchword in the quest for a fourth consecutive title in the English top flight. “The players know it,” he said. “And they have a coach who reminds them many, many times that if we're not humble enough and give credit to all the other teams, it's not going to happen.
“I didn't ask them if they watched the (Liverpool) game last night, like Arsenal on Tuesday (the 5-0 victory over Chelsea) but I'm pretty sure they're keeping an eye on the outcome. Going to Goodison Park is not easy. It never was for Man City. So you have to do your job and we have done that.
“There is pressure. We know that if we don't win or draw we will have no chance of fighting until the end. What we've done in the past… doesn't mean it's going to happen in the future. To do it again, you have to make it happen. “I would love to say that since we have won the last three Premier Leagues, we are going to win 0-4 here, but that doesn't happen.”
