Guardiola Insists Manchester City Must Elevate Performance to Challenge Arsenal
Pep Guardiola has declared that Manchester City are now breathing down the necks of Premier League leaders Arsenal following a remarkable comeback victory at Liverpool, but he insists his team must improve significantly to have any chance of reeling in their rivals.
Dramatic Late Goals Seal Crucial Anfield Triumph
City were staring at another Anfield defeat that would have left them a daunting nine points adrift of Arsenal after Dominik Szoboszlai's outstanding 74th-minute free-kick. However, late goals from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland secured a dramatic 2-1 victory, reducing the gap to six points and delivering City's first win at Anfield in front of a crowd since 2003.
Silva emphasised the importance of the result, stating: "The title race is over if we lost this game." Guardiola responded with cautious optimism, acknowledging the challenge ahead while highlighting the unpredictable nature of football.
Guardiola's Cautious Optimism and Title Race Analysis
The City manager explained: "I'm maybe more optimistic than them. Nine points, watching Arsenal, it is difficult to think they are going to lose more than three games. But in football you never know."
He continued: "I have a feeling that improving a little bit will not be enough to compete against Arsenal but still we have margin [to improve]. We have to play them at home, of course we have to beat them. And 13 games in the Premier League, from my point of view and from my little experience, is a lot."
Guardiola elaborated on the challenges of the run-in, noting: "When you go into the last games playing any team in a relegation battle, it's a proper game. Because they live to survive and have long weeks to prepare, [whereas] you come from FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Champions League. That makes an influence in the title race. That's why being nine, 10, 11 points is more difficult. That's why all we can do is breathe down the neck of Arsenal, be there, and try if they slip, if they make a mistake, use it."
Controversial Moments and Refereeing Decisions
The match featured several contentious incidents, including City believing they had scored a third in the 100th minute when Rayan Cherki found the net from the halfway line with Liverpool keeper Alisson out of his goal. Szoboszlai was subsequently sent off for pulling back Haaland as they pursued the ball, with the striker also pulling the midfielder's shirt, resulting in a free-kick for City.
Guardiola commented on the decision: "It's common sense, no? We won the game and now Szoboszlai can't play [at Sunderland on Wednesday]. I know we pull him but how many pulls are there in a game that referees play on? So give a goal, 3-1, so he can play and we are happy."
Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot expressed frustration over a separate incident involving Marc Guéhi, who came close to moving to Anfield last summer. Slot believed Guéhi should have been sent off for pulling back Mohamed Salah when the forward ran through with the game goalless. Guéhi received only a yellow card, and Liverpool squandered the resulting free-kick on the edge of the City area.
Slot said: "I can live with the fact, although I don't like it, that the referee follows the rulebook and Dominik makes a foul on Haaland in that situation which is a clear shirt-pull and he was through on goal so he would have scored. That's a red card."
He added: "If you follow the rulebook, and you have a clear shirt-pull by Guéhi on Mo Salah, who for eight years has been scoring that ball 100 times out of 100, and it is not a red card, then there is more of my frustration. My main frustration is in the shirt-pull on Mo Salah at 0-0. Clear and open, one vs one on the goalkeeper."
Title Race Implications and Looking Ahead
This victory keeps Manchester City firmly in the title conversation, applying pressure on Arsenal as the season enters its crucial final phase. With the gap now at six points and a head-to-head clash still to come at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola's side have given themselves a fighting chance in what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the Premier League campaign.
The result also highlights City's resilience and ability to grind out results in difficult circumstances, qualities that will be essential if they are to mount a serious challenge for their fourth consecutive Premier League title.
