Graeme Souness has claimed Liverpool should be buoyed in their bid to win the Premier League title after the recent comments from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on Sadio Mane .
Both City and the Reds came back from behind in the Premier League last weekend, with Guardiola subsequently providing the now infamous 'diver' quotes on Mane following his late winner in Liverpool's victory over Aston Villa.
Guardiola said at the time: "Sometimes he’s diving, sometimes he has this talent to score incredible goals in the last minute. He’s a talent."
The City manager has since attempted to clarify those comments and ahead of his side's clash with Atalanta this evening in the Champions League, he explained: "It was far from my intention to say that Sadio Mane is that type of player."
The back and forth has played out ahead of a crucial match between Liverpool and City on Sunday as the latter hope to cut the current six-point gap between the two in the league.
Souness believes the comments show that Guardiola is too focused on goings on at Liverpool amid suggestions of mind games from the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager.
"I'd be encouraged if I was in the Liverpool camp," Souness told VMSport ahead of his old team's win over Genk in the Champions League.
"Soon after City's game finished he talked about his own team and then immediately he came out with his remarks regarding Sadio Mane.
"You're thinking too much about Mane and Liverpool immediately after the game. I'd be encouraged by that if I was a Liverpool player or member of staff. All you can do in football is be concerned with your own lot and the next game."
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