Manchester City may have a very unlikely chance of retaining their Premier League title but Pep Guardiola has been gracious in his comments about Liverpool.

What did he say?

The Spaniard also took time to speak about his own record at Eastlands and the difficult achievements he has made during his tenure, including becoming the first team to retain their Premier League title since Manchester United won the league in 2008/09.

Questions about City's title challenge, or lack thereof, will likely continue until the end of the season, but given the Reds have been almost completely faultless, it is unsurprising that a 16-point gap separates the sides.

The difficulty of winning the league does allow Guardiola and his team to concentrate on other competitions, however, and after winning three trophies last season there is a chance of repeating that feat, with the highly sought-after Champions League trophy high in the priority list.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Guardiola said:

"Liverpool obviously will be champions of the Premier League, but they would be champions in Spain, champions in Italy, champions in Germany. They would be champions everywhere after 23 games, 22 victories, one draw.

"In the recent past when Chelsea won the league, the next season, they didn't qualify for the Champions League, Leicester the same and Chelsea again the same. When we won the league we repeated the league."

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Defiant Pep

Man City have looked far from their best this campaign, already suffering more defeats in the league, with five, than in either 2017/18 or 2018/19, and they will need to improve if they are to challenge in Europe.

Guardiola's comments seem to imply that he thinks his team have been the best in the Premier League over recent years, but Liverpool are on course to break their record points total of 100 that was set in 2017/18.

They are also champions of Europe, something Guardiola hasn't achieved since 2011, and given the Citizens' inconsistency this season there is some doubt over their ability to fight for that title, particularly as the Anfield outfit remain in the competition.

If City fail to replicate their previous achievements this term it will be interesting to see what happens with their manager, and whether he will look to prevent Liverpool from achieving back-to-back titles, assuming they lift the trophy this campaign.

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Guardiola's words seem to indicate that accomplishing such an aim is a goal of his, as the defiant manner in which he brings up the fact that he defended the league title shows he considers it an achievement above what others have managed, and possibly one he is hoping no other team manages.

In other news, Manchester City have targeted a promising young player who has already made an impression on some considerable figures in the game.