Unlike last year, the Premier League title race is shaping up to be epic, and more importantly, competitive, this season. After Manchester City utterly dominated the league last season, it was thought that nobody could match them.
However, Liverpool have stepped up in a huge way, and currently lead the league on 54 points. They are 6 points ahead of Spurs who have a game in hand, and 7 ahead of Manchester City.
Last season, City boasted record numbers of both goals and points and had the title wrapped up by Christmas. This time around, Liverpool look like they’re going to push them right to the end.
Manchester City face Liverpool at home tonight, and they must win if they’re going to keep pace with Klopp’s men.
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Pep Guardiola spoke to the BBC about Liverpool and his team’s new challenges this season.
Liverpool have won their last nine games in contrast to City’s wobbling form over Christmas.
Guardiola said: “I know today nobody trusts us. Everyone is talking about ‘if we lose’ – but we can win.
“At the moment they are the best team in Europe, in their consistency and the way they control the details in their game.
“A lot of nice words are spoken when you make 100 points in a season. But after, it is how you come back – and we did it.
“I am delighted with my team. We have made a lot of points.
“We cannot expect to be 12 or 13 points in front at Christmas like last season. That has happened once in our lifetime, it happened last season.
“This is a new season and the opponent is so strong. For me, that is an immense and huge motivation.”
“History is not 10 years. It is much longer. Anfield is Anfield. The history is there. The Champions Leagues are there. When their players put the shirt on, they know what they have to defend. We are trying to build that history.
“It is a question for Liverpool why they have not won it for so many years but I can feel what they feel. I understand it. It’s difficult to handle.”
City are 10/11 to beat Liverpool, while a Liverpool win comes in at 13/5. For a draw, the odds are 11/4.
