Pep Guardiola has vowed to rally his Manchester City squad after they suffered a fourth consecutive Premier League defeat, losing 2-0 to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
The loss extended City’s winless streak to seven matches across all competitions and marked their worst league run since 2008.
The result saw City drop to fifth in the Premier League, now 11 points adrift of leaders Liverpool.
Fans at Anfield mocked Guardiola with chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning,” but the Spaniard responded by holding up six fingers, a nod to his six Premier League titles with the club.
“All the stadiums want to sack me; it started at Brighton!” Guardiola joked after the match.
“Maybe they are right with the results we’ve been having. I didn’t expect that at Anfield, but it’s part of the game, and I understand completely. We’ve had incredible battles together, and I respect them,” he added.
City’s performance at Anfield was dominated by Liverpool, who outshot the visitors 18-8 and recorded an Expected Goals (xG) total of over three, marking only the second time in City’s Premier League history that they’ve conceded such a high xG.
City’s first shot didn’t come until the 39th minute, their longest wait in a league match since 2010.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher called City’s current form a “mini-crisis,” comparing it to Liverpool’s struggles two years ago.
“I think it’s almost a mini-crisis at Manchester City,” Carragher said. “It’s reminiscent of Liverpool two years ago, and I think City might have a fight on their hands for the top four.
Arsenal and Chelsea are looking strong, and I think it’s going to be difficult for City to finish above them if they don’t strengthen in January.”
Despite the club’s struggles, Guardiola remains optimistic and committed to his players.
“I am here sitting as a manager defending what we have done in the past thanks to them. More than ever, I want to be with them and hug them. We have to change the results, and in the right time, we will take the decision. There’s a moment where maybe it will click,” Guardiola said.
Guardiola also acknowledged that injuries and a lack of a proper pre-season had taken their toll but insisted that he believes in his players’ ability to turn things around.
“I congratulate Liverpool and we’ll reset and start from zero. It’s hard to believe it, but I trust these players. We’ll see what happens by the end of the season,” he said
“Today Kevin [De Bruyne] played well, Jack [Grealish] played well in that position, and Jeremy [Doku] had a solid performance after a month out. Nathan [Ake] was exceptional against one of the best wingers. We’ll accept the situation and build from here.”
With the season still ongoing, Guardiola is focused on turning things around, starting with their upcoming matches against Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, and Manchester United in December.
Premier League Standings:
1. Liverpool – 34 pts
2. Arsenal – 25 pts
3. Chelsea – 25 pts
4. Brighton – 23 pts
5. Man City – 23 pts
Guardiola’s immediate task is to address City’s recent slump and look for a strong response in their upcoming fixtures.
