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Manchester City’s eighth Premier League defeat of the season at home to Liverpool left Pep Guardiola’s side concerned of making sure they qualify for the Champions League.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola after losing to Liverpool (AP)
Manchester City suffered a 0-2 loss at home to Premier League title favourites Liverpool after talisman Mohamed Salah scored their first goal and set up Dominik Szoboszlai for the second to got 11 points clear at the top on Sunday.
Manchester City have dominated English football during Pep Guardiola’s time in charge, including an unprecedented run of four consecutive titles in the past four seasons.
City’s defence of their title was realistically ended long ago when Guardiola’s men suffered a miserable run of one win in 13 games between October and December.
After a chastening Champions League exit to Real Madrid in midweek, City were far more competitive against the Premier League champions-elect.
Guardiola acknowledged that his side face a scrap for Champions League qualification.
“If it doesn’t happen it’s because we were not good enough, not because a lack of hunger and desire,” he told reporters on Sunday. “We saw it against Newcastle and we saw it again today,” he added referring to City’s 4-0 win last Saturday.
“It is so tight with four or five teams and Nottingham Forest, Newcastle, Aston Villa are so good. It will not be easy but we will try. If it happens, it’s because we deserve it. If it doesn’t, it’s because we were not good enough.”
But City were missing the talismanic presence of Erling Haaland through injury, while Liverpool could rely on Mohamed Salah for inspiration in the final third.
“I think (Jeremy) Doku and Savinho played an incredible game and got to the by-line a lot but then just from there we missed the magic,” said Guardiola.
“We played really good so I have no regrets. The chances in the final third, when we want to shoot and cross, for the amount we arrived there, we did not create much.”
City have by Guardiola’s own admission looked an ageing team at times in their fall from grace this season.
But the Catalan coach saw signs of rejuvenation as three of his January signings, Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez and Abdukodir Khusanov, started along with the likes of Doku, Savinho, Rico Lewis and Phil Foden.
“I saw a bright future. Other than Kevin (De Bruyne) and Nathan (Ake), they are the future of this club in the next years, with others who will come in future windows.”
(With inputs from Agencies)
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