Guardiola: 'Only a madman would dare to underestimate Liverpool'

Coach Pep Guardiola responded with sharp irony when asked about the constant shifts in the Premier League title race this season. Some even jokingly claimed that Liverpool’s chances were over following their recent poor form.

After a trophyless 2024/25 season, Man City was ranked third among the Premier League title contenders for 2025/26, behind Liverpool and Arsenal. Their chances seemed even slimmer after consecutive losses to Tottenham and Brighton in August, despite a 4-0 win over Wolves in the opening round.

However, things have changed now. Currently, Man City’s consistent and outstanding performance, led by the brilliant Erling Haaland, has restored them as serious contenders. Guardiola’s team is on a 5-match unbeaten streak in the league, with four wins against Man United, Burnley, Brentford, and Everton, plus a draw with Arsenal. This run has placed them second in the table, 3 points behind Arsenal and 1 point ahead of reigning champions Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Liverpool faces doubts about defending their title after suffering four straight defeats. They lost to Crystal Palace, Galatasaray, Chelsea, and Man United before bouncing back with a 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League midweek. In the upcoming Premier League fixtures, Slot’s Liverpool will visit Brentford, while Guardiola’s Man City will travel to Aston Villa.

Before the weekend round, Pep Guardiola subtly criticized the media for baseless comments on team performances. He emphasized that premature judgments without sufficient evidence are unwise: "This is something we often face. Like this season, after just 2 or 3 matches, people said we were finished. Now, it’s Liverpool (currently third after three straight losses) who are also considered done. At that time, I didn’t dwell on it or argue. I just said we’d come back, and Man City has proven that.

I’ve said it many times: experts and former players always claim to know what will happen after only 5 games. That’s ridiculous. I can’t do that because I don’t comment like they do. I need 10 to 15 games to see the real picture. Liverpool and Arsenal remain in the race for the Premier League title this season. Other clubs are still in it too, and hopefully, we will be as well.”