Pep Guardiola has claimed Liverpool are ‘back’ as Manchester City enter the second half of the Premier League season.
The champions are at the halfway point of the campaign and sit third in the table, two points behind Aston Villa and five off leaders Liverpool, albeit City have a game in hand on both.
But it’s the Merseyside club who appear to be worrying Guardiola. Liverpool have provided tough competition in three of the last five years, including in 2019/20, when Jurgen Klopp’s side claimed the title, and the City boss namechecked his old adversary when asked about the second half of the season.
“In the Premier League we have one game in hand. We have a big rival, Liverpool is back, Arsenal, many good teams are there, Tottenham, it’s important to be there. But in the same time we know we can’t drop points much or it will be difficult.”
City haven’t always played at their optimum this season, but Guardiola is hopeful the returning Kevin De Bruyne, Jermey Doku and Erling Haaland can help the team improve in 2024, which begins with a trip to Newcastle United on Sunday before an 18-day pause in the league campaign for the Blues.
“Now we have a difficult game in Newcastle and then we have two weeks to refresh our minds and go to Abu Dhabi to train in better conditions,” said Guardiola. “In the second part, what I want is everyone to arrive fit.
“I want Kevin back, Erling back, Jeremy back and Jack [Grealish]. When we have everyone back we have a team that can compete in different competitions until the end.”
City started the new year with an impressive 5-0 FA Cup win over Huddersfield Town on Sunday, with Phil Foden netting a brace and Julian Alvarez, Oscar Bobb and Doku on target. De Bruyne also made his return to the side after a nearly five-month injury layoff and provided the assist for Doku’s late half-volley.
