Pep Guardiola sent a cautionary message to current Premier League leaders Liverpool following Manchester City’s triumphant return to domestic action after their Club World Cup victory. Overcoming a halftime deficit, City secured a 3-1 win against Everton at Goodison Park, aided by a contentious penalty decision against Amadou Onana for a handball.
This outcome narrowed the gap between the champions and Liverpool to five points, with a game in hand for City. Guardiola emphasized the need for maintaining high standards, pointing to City’s track record of securing five of the last six league titles.
In his post-match comments, Guardiola asserted, “That’s why we are the world champion, the best team in the world. Now I’m going to remind them every day. We have standards to keep. We cannot let the standards go down.”
City, often favored to clinch another Premier League title, benefits from the return of Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne from injury. Their history of prolonged winning streaks in late-season stages adds to their credentials. However, the unique challenge this season stems from Liverpool, a formidable competitor. Since 2017, Jurgen Klopp’s team has been the only side rivalling City for domestic supremacy, frequently pushing Guardiola’s squad until the final day.
During Guardiola’s tenure at the Etihad Stadium, no other team has consistently challenged City. Liverpool, displaying resilience this season, has even bounced back on occasions with 10 men. Looking ahead, Liverpool expects City’s customary surge in form after January and is prepared to match their challenge as both teams gear up for a potential upswing in the new year.
