Arne Slot rejects title defence talk – Pep Guardiola declares Man City challengers

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Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City‘s 3-0 win over defending Premier League champions Liverpool shows his side are ready to compete for the title again this season. “I said to the players, ‘don’t do it because yesterday Arsenal didn’t win, do it because we believe in ourselves that we can play against the champions of England and show they we are ready to be there with him this season’,” Guardiola said.

“Today we proved it, we did it – especially in the first half.” But while Guardiola can think of putting pressure on Mikel Arteta’s Gunners after the international break, Arne Slot admitted Liverpool cannot spend time thinking about the title race until they have fixed the issues which have seen them lose five of 11 in the league to fall eight points off the pace. “I said last season many times, even when we were leading, the best time to judge the league is of course after 38 games and then next best is after 19 games because you have played all the opponents.

“Our first focus should be on getting results and the last thing we should focus on is the title race…We need to improve, that is obvious.” After missing an early penalty, Haaland headed City into a 29th-minute lead. “But I have been on the opposite side when we have been much better and 1-0 up and maybe not scoring the second one and then the opposition make it 1-1 and things change.