Manchester City must 'work harder, play better and pray' to close gap on Liverpool, says boss Pep Guardiola

Last updated on 1 January 2020.From the section Man City683

Manchester City must "work harder, play better, and pray" if they are to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool, says manager Pep Guardiola.

The Reds are currently 13 points clear of Leicester City at the top of the table with a game in hand.

Reigning champions City are a further point behind, having lost two of their last five league games.

Guardiola added that his side were capable of putting pressure on Liverpool "when everyone is fit".

Asked what his side needed to do, he said: "Work harder, play better, and pray."

He added: "We can always do what we can do. But there are other issues we cannot control.

"We cannot control what a fantastic team like Liverpool have done so far, and there are other issues we cannot control."

When asked if those "other issues" refereed to the video assistant referee system (VAR) and City's current injury list, Guardiola said: "You know that."

But he refuted suggestions that City's lack of activity during the summer transfer window was to blame for the club's slip down the table.

City signed four players during the period but have been plagued by injuries with Aymeric Laporte, Leroy Sane, David Silva and John Stones all currently sidelined.

"No. I think the team is fantastic. I love my team," said Guardiola. "We have had problems with injuries.

"Liverpool are incredible, they are champions of Europe and have dropped two points, so we must congratulate them.

"The distance between us is not as it should be, but it is what it is."

Manchester City host Everton on New Year's Day (17:30 GMT) while Liverpool welcome Sheffield United to Anfield on Thursday (20:00 GMT).

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Comment posted by User0265915510, at 08:29 1 Jan 2020
How about stopping the whingeing after every single game , accept that it’s not because one player is injured , it’s not because of VAR, it’s not a conspiracy. It is just that Liverpool are by far the better team this season.
Comment posted by Relax and Chill, at 08:38 1 Jan 2020
Like or dislike Man City they do play good attacking football and never boring to watch win lose or draw. Let's be honest they have some amazing players that are a joy to watch.

Liverpool fan.
Comment posted by IvorBiggin, at 08:11 1 Jan 2020
Does he not realise the amount of injuries Liverpool have or are going through???
We lost Allison at the start of the season, Matip who was at the time performing much better than Van Dijk, Fabinho, Ox, Keita.... Guardiola has the biggest squad, spent millions, in my opinion he’s just a sore loser!!!!
Comment posted by youliveyoulean, at 08:14 1 Jan 2020
Liverpool have had just as many injuries, it's just they have a better balance to their squad (with not quite as much depth). Come on Pep...it's just like the game Footballer Manager....everyone knows you need 4 centre backs in a squad of 25 or so.....poor management.
Comment posted by dbfinch, at 09:20 1 Jan 2020
Guardiola added that his side were capable of putting pressure on Liverpool "when everyone is fit".

You have a billion pound squad, one that arguably has more depth than any in the history of football. Just look at Liverpool’s most recent bench compared to your ‘injury hit’ bench. Face it, Pep: you’ve been found out.
Comment posted by Raedwulf, at 08:05 1 Jan 2020
Pray? I think even the Big Fella is going to have His work cut-out, trying to get you closer to Liverpool this season, Pep!
Comment posted by D1678477001698, at 08:23 1 Jan 2020
It’s a strange place Manchester.....City don’t have many supporters to fill up their stadia and Man U don’t have any supporters that actually live in Manchester
Comment posted by onemightyred, at 08:44 1 Jan 2020
Oh Pep,why can't you just admit you got it all wrong from the start by not replacing Kompany?
Comment posted by saddletramp , at 08:07 1 Jan 2020
Realistically the most points City can hope for is 89.

Liverpool to reach 90 pts can afford to drop 22 points.

7 defeats or 11 draws.

Just aint gonna happen.
Comment posted by are we broke yet, at 09:20 1 Jan 2020
City desperately needed to replace Kompany with an equally world class centre back. Unfortunately for City he was already at Liverpool. That area of the pitch has been absolutely the key difference between two fantastic teams.
Comment posted by Modulox, at 08:53 1 Jan 2020
Pep never considers his own failures and blames it on injuries. Matip has been missing over half the season and was 1st choice CB with VVD. Alisson missed 7 games. Fabinho's been out during the most hectic period and still out. Ox, Lovren and Shaqiri all out currently. Plus they had the World Club Cup. Pep needs to look at his own decisions, tactics and player hunger. Perhaps they're bored of him.
Comment posted by Have My Say, at 08:37 1 Jan 2020
More longevity the way this Liverpool team has been built compared to City. As soon as things go wrong they will struggle to flog these mercenaries on big salaries. What a job FSG have done. The perfect 5 year plan!
Comment posted by marty, at 08:12 1 Jan 2020
Pep Guardiola must spend another billion.
Stop wispering in his pre match interviews and stop rubbing his face and picking his nose. Then you might have a chance.
Comment posted by Whitsy, at 09:07 1 Jan 2020
Liverpool supporter here. City have played magnificently at times but their one weakness was centre back and you could see when Kompany left they needed to strengthen. Having said that, although Liverpool have coped really well with key injuries I don’t know how we’d fair if VVD got injured. We were all hoping for a terrific battle this year, it’s a shame that hasn’t materialised (but enjoying it)
Comment posted by Slippery, at 08:29 1 Jan 2020
Liverpool just won't drop the number of points required, and City won't win every remaining game. Job done.
Comment posted by Mart, at 08:21 1 Jan 2020
Who’s he going to pray to? God supports Liverpool.
Comment posted by the boring one , at 08:16 1 Jan 2020
And spend.....cheque book manager, if he can't coach a billion pound squad then he just can't coach..simples
Comment posted by philthered9, at 08:43 1 Jan 2020
Love how people keep referencing City's terrible injury list. This is only mentioned because they keep dropping points. We have arguably had far worse luck with injuries:

Allison
Matip
Fabinio
Ox
Salah
Lovren
Keita

All this is forgotten simply because we keep winning yet all we hear is how we will be in trouble if we get a few injuries! We have had them and we are still the best!
Comment posted by Chris Brislen, at 09:58 1 Jan 2020
Liverpool injuries, Matip, Lovren, Shaqiri, Chamberlain, Fabinho, Allison missed half of season. All teams have injuries. Get over it. No excuses when you have spent that much money. Liverpool recruits in summer...two kids.
Comment posted by iknowwhatilike, at 09:56 1 Jan 2020
So City have been hampered by injuries to 4 players then.
Lucky Liverpool only have Fabinho,Lovren.Matip,Oxlade-Chamberlain and Shaquiri injured and were without Allison for 8 games.
Think up another excuse that oneis dead and buried.
Here's one - how about Liverpool are better.