Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes the Premier League title race is "done" - despite his team keeping up the pressure on Liverpool.
City ensured the Reds cannot win the championship this weekend when they resumed the campaign on Wednesday with a comfortable 3-0 home win over Arsenal.
Nevertheless, Liverpool are 22 points clear of the Etihad side with nine games remaining and need just another two victories to be crowned champions for the first time since 1990.
And with that gap a record lead in top-flight history from having played the same amount of matches, Guardiola admits there is no chance of his team catching Jurgen Klopp's side.
"The first two games against Arsenal and Burnley are so important to get our points to reassure our qualification for (the Champions League) next season as quickly as possible," said Guardiola.
"The Premier League is done with Liverpool, there are six or seven teams fighting for qualification for the Champions League.
"It’s like a title, we have played for four titles this season plus another one. We have 15 points clear from fifth, it was a good sign to beat Arsenal."
Should City beat Burnley and Liverpool fail to take six points from their games at Everton on Sunday and at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday, the title could be decided when the top two meet on Thursday, July 2.
