Amidst the recent seismic shifts in the Premier League title race, Manchester City’s esteemed manager, Pep Guardiola, has cast his eye upon Liverpool’s stuttering trajectory and offered an optimistic prediction. This comes on the back of murmurs suggesting the Reds are “finished” and will no longer contend for the Premier League crown this season.
The initial stages of the Premier League campaign saw Liverpool emerge as the team to beat, thanks in part to a £400 million summer investment spree the largest in Europe that saw them triumph in their first five encounters. However, their momentum has since waned, exemplified by four consecutive defeats that have seen them tumble from the league’s summit.
In stark contrast, both Arsenal and City have capitalised on Liverpool’s lapse, each embarking on triumphant runs that have positioned them in the top two slots of the league standings after just eight games. Yet, Guardiola remains sanguine about Liverpool’s prospects, asserting, “they will be back.”
Addressing speculations that City may be lurking under the radar in this season’s title race, Guardiola quipped, “Well, in the first two games, three games, yeah for sure we [City] are out. And Liverpool is already done, and now it looks like Liverpool is done. And I’ll tell you that they will be back. I’ve said many times, I know all the pundits, all the specialists or former players, they know everything that is going to happen after five games, I’m not able to do that. So, always I wait for 10, 15 games to know exactly what is going on. But I think obviously Liverpool and Arsenal are there, someone else will be there, hopefully we can be there.”
While Erling Haaland has largely carried the attacking burden for Man City, Guardiola has also been mesmerised by the talents of Matheus Nunes. The City boss has tipped him to evolve into “one of the best” right-backs globally, praising his potential to be “incredible.”
“He can be an incredible right-back,” lauded Guardiola, highlighting Nunes’ transition from a holding midfielder to a potential world-class full-back due to his immense physical and mental attributes.
Looking ahead to their fixture against Aston Villa, Guardiola acknowledged the challenge posed by Unai Emery’s side. City have found Villa Park a particularly tough venue, enduring difficulty in previous encounters. “They were much better than us the last two fixtures we played at Villa Park. Hopefully, it will be different on Sunday,” Guardiola admitted, full of admiration for Emery’s tactical acumen and organisation.
With an appreciation for Villa’s recent form, Guardiola noted their solid defensive setup, prowess at set pieces, and the danger posed by their rapid and physically formidable front line. “The connection between them is really good; they break the lines with the strikers and when that happens, they are so quick, attacking quick with the speed they have up front,” remarked Guardiola.
As City prepare to overcome last season’s struggles against Villa, they remain focused on sustaining their momentum in a Premier League season that promises unpredictability and fierce competition.