Manchester City supervisor Pep Guardiola known as Liverpool the favourites to win the Premier League after his aspect have been held to a goalless residence draw by title rivals Arsenal.
After Liverpool got here from behind to beat Brighton 2-1 earlier within the day, Jurgen Klopp’s aspect prime the desk by two factors from the Gunners with Metropolis in third, three factors from the summit.
Guardiola’s three-time reigning champions have made a behavior of placing collectively lengthy profitable runs late within the season to overtake rivals within the race to complete prime, however the Catalan conceded this yr’s title race was not of their fingers.
“At all times who’s first is favorite,” Guardiola stated when requested if Liverpool have been “clear favourites” to win the league.
“The second favorite is Arsenal and we’re third… It’s not in our fingers. All we will do is consider Aston Villa (at residence on Wednesday). At all times after we have been prime of the league, we have been favourites. It was in our fingers. Now it’s not. It’s easy.”
Metropolis and Arsenal each fought onerous on the Etihad however produced a match of few probabilities that won’t reside lengthy within the reminiscence, with Guardiola’s males failing to attain at residence for the primary time in 58 matches throughout all competitions.
Final April Arsenal misplaced 4-1 on the Etihad within the midst of a run which proved pivotal as Metropolis overhauled Mikel Arteta’s aspect on their technique to the treble.
There was no repeat as Arsenal’s eight-game dropping streak on the Etihad got here to an finish, and this felt like a extra necessary consequence for the Gunners.
“I believe the context and the way in which we arrived right here 11 months in the past was totally different, however the problem stays the identical,” Arsenal boss Arteta stated.
“They’re the very best staff on this planet, for my part, by far. They’ve the very best supervisor on this planet by far. To catch up and attempt to higher than them is the problem forward of us…
“I don’t know (if the draw is nice for the title race). You need to win the sport. You put together to win it. Should you can’t win it, ensure you draw it. We did that.
“Eleven months in the past we have been right here and the story was very totally different. It’s important to make steps as a staff and at the moment we’ve carried out that. We nonetheless have many extra to come back…
“(It says) that we’re enhancing and competing higher and perceive how it’s a must to play these video games however there may be one other step to make to win the championship. It’s important to come right here and win.”
Arsenal stored their construction, defending deep and denying Metropolis gamers any house in and across the field.
Requested the right way to break down such a low block, Guardiola joked: “Kill somebody”.
“I recognise my staff, the proposals and the way we pressed excessive,” he stated. “We’ve performed towards a low block generally and Arsenal are distinctive. Properly managed and the gamers are actually good.
“It’s important to knock on the door of one other supervisor and see if he can do it. As a staff we’re nonetheless there. We might have extra in some points however I’m happy. I informed the staff don’t be unhappy. You give credit score to Arsenal for the issues they do.”
