Pep Guardiola responds to rivals 'taking the crap out of' Man City defeat

Pep Guardiola is well aware that everyone outside his club is eagerly awaiting their downfall. However, he is ready to overhaul the team that has won the last four Premier League titles to ensure he gets the last laugh.

Anfield has always been a difficult venue for the Blues, and a defeat against Liverpool would see Guardiola's side fall 11 points behind the leaders, damaging their chances of making history. Despite signing a new two-year contract just over a week ago, Guardiola is not expecting any sympathy.

He believes this will give him enough time to build a team capable of ushering in another era of dominance. “As is normal in sport, they don't care about your defeats,” remarked the City manager.

“At least there’s respect. There’s no violence or that sort of thing.

“It’s part of the quality of football that people can laugh at you when things aren’t going well.

“I don't like it all. I don't like it. I don't sleep as well as I do when I win every game. But it will pass. I don't know when, but nothing lasts forever.

“I know how we behave internally. We have proven that we are an exceptional club.

“We celebrate – but not a lot because we respect the opponents. That's one of the things I like the most: our behavior in good moments.

“At the right time the club – myself first – will make the decisions we need to make to keep the club going for many years to come. I want to be here. I asked to be here to try.”

Guardiola shrugged off the underdog label ahead of their clash with Liverpool at Anfield, a ground where City have won just three times in 68 years. Despite a recent dip in form, including a draw against Feyenoord after going 3-0 up, Guardiola remains unfazed.

He reflected on his past experiences, saying: “Being favorites was never enough (at Anfield) because the only time we won there was during Covid times, when there was no had no one. So nothing has changed much, I would say.

“Every time I have played in my career, even at Barcelona with extraordinary players, being favorites has never given us an extra boost. That doesn't mean you start the match 1-0 and you play better.

“We’ll do what we need to do and then we’ll see what happens.”