Premier League: Reaction as Man City close on Arsenal in title race

City boss Pep Guardiola to BBC Sport: "A really good game. Concentration, set pieces, defensively, how aggressive we were. We started really well. Considering the opponents we faced, it was a fantastic performance.

"Kevin de Bruyne is a special player. We expected high pressing and we could run with Erling, he’s an incredible threat."

On playing Manuel Akanji at left-back: "It was so difficult to decide. When I saw Akanji play against Coman and Sane [against Bayern Munich] and how defensively strong he was one on one, I decided. Saka is an incredible threat. We needed someone one on one, Manu winning duels."

On tiredness: "Winning helps. Being in the Champions League semis and FA Cup final helps a lot with the tiredness. They are two points in front of us so we’re still not top. You have to win the games in hand. We cannot lose our focus. Now it’s in our hands. When it’s in our hands we have to use it."

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to BBC Sport: “You have to accept the better team won the game. The way we started, we didn’t do the basics right, we didn’t compete in the right way.

“We have to look at ourselves in the mirror and be fair. When that team plays at that level it's extremely difficult to stay up.

“We weren’t at our level. It’s a concern. When you’re fighting for a championship [to do that].

"It’s not about fight. It’s about the competitiveness in this kind of game. We never generated any momentum in the game.

“We’ve been doing that for nine and a half months [challenging]. We’re not going to throw it away because we lost one game. We have to ift all our players. It was a shock.”

More reaction from a trio of Premier League title winners on BT Sport...

Former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand: "We looked at this as a title decider and the experience told today. City knew what was needed. The way they asserted themselves, won their battles and overran this Arsenal team, they showed their level.

"They can handle the big occasion better than anyone else - it is one of their superpowers. But they can play ugly at times, how they press, how aggressive they are and if they are pressed how they can go longer."

Ex-Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira: "I expected Arsenal to challenge City a bit more. This was a strong statement from City to say you're still a long way from us. It was a strong performance and City showed they are going to go on and win it."

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown: "It's the acid test when you play Manchester City. Haaland and De Bruyne are another level. When the big games come around these players perform at a high level. You could see a huge gap behind the two clubs, Arsenal are about 10 years behind them, but they are on the right path.

"Arsenal are putting the pieces in the jigsaw puzzle but it is still a long way to go. When Saliba is not around, when the best XI is not available, you can see the gulf."

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta: "I don't think they were scared but the way we started the game didn't help. We lost all the first, second balls.

"It's very easy to say that here [that his players should have won the duels] but when you have to play against a team who played at their best it's extremely difficult to do that.

"I accept the reality. That's the best way to move forward. We never had a chance to win the game. We have to improve.

"We knew we'd need our best as a team. We were far from that.

"I don't know what will be required [to win the title]. We have to lift the players up because they're suffering. It's a difficult one to swallow."

Do they need to win all five games to have a chance? "I think so."

SMS Message: As a neutral, I'm constantly amazed how Pep makes great players even better. Every player in the team is comfortable playing on the half turn, pressing, anticipating the 2nd ball and setting a position to create the next pass. Great to watch and they only seem to get better. from Russ, Maidenhead

As a neutral, I'm constantly amazed how Pep makes great players even better. Every player in the team is comfortable playing on the half turn, pressing, anticipating the 2nd ball and setting a position to create the next pass. Great to watch and they only seem to get better.

SMS Message: I don't understand those saying that Arsenal won't get a better chance. Presumably these are just fans of clubs doing poorly who have convinced themselves "it's only a blip". Arsenal will strengthen in the summer and only a fool would say they won't be competitive next year when presented with the evidence of this. from James, St Albans

I don't understand those saying that Arsenal won't get a better chance. Presumably these are just fans of clubs doing poorly who have convinced themselves "it's only a blip". Arsenal will strengthen in the summer and only a fool would say they won't be competitive next year when presented with the evidence of this.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta: "The better team won the game. They were probably at their best and we were nowhere near our level. The first 30 minutes all the basic things you have to do against a top team we didn’t do it and we got punished.

"At the start of the season they said we’d finish sixth or seventh. The players deserve a lot of credit to be where we are after nine months against this team.

"We played against an exceptional team. But we’re an exceptional team as well - but today we weren’t at the races.

"They were better in every department. They won every duel. We conceded from a set-play, from a throw-in.

"We wanted to tweak a few things but they scored an early goal. We have to be loyal to what has brought us all this way. We have to look in the mirror to see what we could do better."

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking to BT Sport: "We were beaten by the better team, that's for sure. They were excellent and it is hard to reach that level. We were not at that level today.

"You have to compete and win duels, have to do basics against this team. We didn't do that first half and we were punished. It is very difficult.

"The way we were in the first 20 or 30 minutes they were on top of us and we could not compete in every duel. They were extremely direct and know they are capable of doing that. You have to be in right positions and one v one we were not."

What does that mean for the title race? "Today is a very difficult night, the way we lost, but we have to stand up and look at bigger picture.

"The fact we are competing toe to toe with this City team is incredible.

"There are five games to go and anything can happen. Over the years I've seen a lot can happen in this league. We have to accept we lost to an exceptional team."

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to BT Sport, on the influence of man of the match Kevin de Bruyne: "Kevin is always pushing and feeling he can do better. But in this shape, when he moves behind Xhaka or Partey and has more freedom, it's so dangerous for the opponents.

"We won but we didn't play good. We worked a lot in possession here, we were patient and more contact with players up front, they kept the ball."

On his success at City: "This club give me everything. I remember the season we didn't win they supported me unconditionally. Why should we stop.

"The way Liverpool pushed us in the previous season and it has been the same with Arsenal. They made 50 points in the first half of the season. We had to keep pushing."

More from Pep Guardiola on whether City are now in the driving seat for the title: "The next three games are really important. Fulham on Sunday, Marco Silva has done a fantastic job, then two games at home against West Ham and Leeds.

"These three games will dictate if we can do what we want to do. The reality is we're still behind Arsenal.

"It will not be easy for us, but it is game by game and we see what happens."

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola speaking to BT Sport: "We've always had an incredible attacking threat but the connection between Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne is extraordinary. Today we tried to use it as much as possible.

"We are back-to-back Premier League winners, so earlier in the season we say we have time, but for Arsenal it was completely opposite. Every win was a final.

"But two months later, the players know it is necessary to say it is close and we need to win to stay in contention. That mentality where you have no option but to win is the best mentality to play. The players have shown they go into every match trying to win."

Man City’s Erling Haaland scored his 33rd Premier League goal of the season, the most any player has scored in a 38-game season in the Premier League.

Only Andrew Cole in 1993-94 and Alan Shearer in 1994-95 (34 goals each) have scored more in a campaign.

Craig Smith: Big conclusion after that game (and last four games), biggest signing for Arsenal this season is a new contract for Saliba. We have imploded without him. Vital to our game and our season.

More from West Ham manager David Moyes, on the decision to not award his side a late penalty following a potential handball from Thiago.

Moyes told the news conference: "You will probably hear some rubbish of how he had to break his fall but he lunged for the ball and that would completely nullify what they are talking about.

"I think it's a penalty kick, the hardest thing to take is the disrespect from VAR [video assistant referee] that they didn't say to the referee that it's worth a look.

"Someone in VAR didn't have enough football knowledge to know that could be close. For me VAR showed no respect to us and that it was worth a call.

"Do I think he [Thiago] meant to hit the ball, no I didn't but did he get in the way of the ball going through, yes he did.

"His arms were out and the ball hit his arm. They [the VAR officials] might need to apologise to the football club. We need points to be a Premier League team."

For spells of the game, Liverpool looked like the old Liverpool with the way they kept control of the ball.

There will be teams looking at them and worried that they are putting performances together.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: "I loved the first half, we played really well, controlled the game then bang 1-0 down. But we kept playing, scored an incredible goal, kept playing, kept moving them then scored in the second half.

"We needed a set piece but I'm more than happy with that. Yesterday Joel had five of them [headers] and put them all in the fence but today put it in the net. I'm really pleased for Joel that he showed up today as it's not been his season so far.

"Maybe the boys have found their feet back and I liked the football we played. The first half was the best we have played in ages, it was convincing, it was us and we played football. We've had games this season where people have not recognised us and today we showed it is still in us and I'm pleased with that."

On their hopes of playing in Europe next season, he said: "If we win all our games we will be in Europe. People ask me about the Champions League but that's not in our hands as we don't play any of the teams above us.

"It's important we keep going, playing good football and at the end of the season we will see how many points we have. I would like to finish the season as us, then we can build on that next season.

"I want to take something out of this season for next season. If that's European competition that's great, if not we have to accept it. For a few weeks I want us to show our real faces instead of the nice one one game, then the ugly one the next."

On a potential handball by Thiago that was not given as a penalty, Klopp added: "I thought he just fell on the ball but I can understand [David] Moyes sees it completely differently."

West Ham manager David Moyes, speaking to Match of the Day on the decision to not award a penalty after the ball hit Thiago's arm, said: "I can't believe it. The biggest thing is he [referee Chris Kavanagh] didn't check it, it was completely disrespectful [from the video assistant referee].

"The boy lunged at the ball, the lunge means he is out of his control and the referee doesn't give it, but what can you do? We deserved to get something out of the game. I'm disappointed we gave away some sloppy goals but the performance merited something and against a Liverpool side that's improving we merited a penalty kick.

"Liverpool played some good football at times, we did as well. There were two really good goals from distance but from our point of view their second goal was poor, we got taken under the ball and didn't stop a couple of runners.

"We've been very good at defending corners this season but I didn't like that at all. Even though we lost it doesn't feel like a defeat."

Chelsea looked poor. They made changes at half time to freshen it up because the starting XI looked a bit negative and they did look better in the second half.

It seems a bit of a mess with what's happening off the pitch and talk in the media that Pochettino could be in by the end of the week. Where does that leave Frank [Lampard]? Where does that leave the players? It causes confusion and the players don't know where they stand. The owner has to take a bit of the blame too.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank, speaking to BBC Sport: "In the last six games when we didn't win, in at least three of them we were maybe better than today.

"It was two small deflections for the goals, against Wolves we got two deflections going the other way. That is football. Going to Chelsea, I know they are not in the best form, but look at the players and it is Stamford Bridge!

"We knew they would make changes at half time. We expected there would be a response. They were on top then but we got some freshness in and that helped and we were back in control.

"Set pieces is a weapon we are very pleased with. Every team wants to score set piece goals."

On course to better last season's 13th-place finish: "Surely. That is one thing we definitely want to do. We want to finish as high as possible and we want to keep pushing until the end of the season. A top 10 finish would be fantastic,

"This is a magic moment for the Brentford fans. They need to cherish them because it is special."

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard, speaking to BBC Sport: "Brentford do what they do very well. They have a really effective style with set pieces.

"In this moment, sometimes football bites you on the bum and that happened today.

"Tactics, we played against Real Madrid we played a really good game for 60 minutes. We missed out chances and we lost that game. Today we were a back three and really secure but not as much as a threat as wanted to be. Then we went to a back four for more of a threat and then the counter can do you.

"We're talking confidence here because the mentality wasn't wrong in the players today. We have all got pride. You have to keep fighting until the moment comes."

Understand the boos at full time? "No problem with that, completely understand it. I know these fans very well and they stick by their team. They feel down because they are used to success and they want that success all the time as we all do. I absolutely understand it, we as players and staff have to take it on the chin because they want results.

"I can say to the fans now that the players are showing application. Brentford had one shot on target and scored two goals, that kind of says it all tonight."

Any news on a new manager? "Nothing."