Guardiola: If we drop points, Liverpool are champions

Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City cannot afford a single slip-up if they want to beat Liverpool to the Premier League title.

The Citizens reclaimed their lead at the top of the table with a 3-0 victory over Brighton last night after Liverpool had leapfrogged them by thrashing Manchester United a day earlier.

After failing to break through Graham Potter’s resolute side during a nervy first half at the Etihad, goals from Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva eventually saw City go one point clear of the Reds once again.

And with six fixtures left to play, Guardiola thinks even drawing a game could see the title head back to the Merseyside outfit, who he has described as "one of the best teams in the history of football".

He said after the Seagulls win: "There are six games left and if we win all the games, we are champions.

"If we don't win all the games, Liverpool will be champions. It's simple. 

"It happened years ago when we won 14 games in a row to be champions.

"Liverpool are one of the best teams in the history of football. One of the best ever. The players know it. 

"It's a pity we didn't win against them here because we were better. Now we don't have the [ability] to drop anything."

There has been barely anything to choose between City and Liverpool all season, with both Premier League games ending 2-2 and the Reds edging last Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final 3-2 at Wembley.

Both teams have also reached the last four of the Champions League and are favourites to meet in the final.

City's injury problems continued as John Stones and Nathan Ake were forced off last night, while Kyle Walker remains a doubt for their semi-final with Real Madrid next week.

The Spanish boss, 51, added: "It depends on fatigue and injuries, it depends on the Champions League.

"We have just one month — maybe five weeks. 11 months and it comes down to one month, we will do everything we can to be the best in those games.

"Three difficult away games [at Leeds, West Ham and Wolves] but it's just six games and we'll do our best, after that who knows what is going to happen."