Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City and Liverpool deserve the title race to go to the final day of the Premier League season.
The two have been the dominant forces in English football for the last five years and City's dropped points at West Ham on Sunday means that - regardless of Liverpool's match at Southampton in midweek - the equation for Guardiola and his team is much simpler though: beat Aston Villa at the Etihad and win the league.
Many thought the league was done and dusted as early as December - one bookmaker paid out on City winning the league after 19 games - but an absorbing second half of the season has seen Jurgen Klopp's challengers close the gap on the defending champions. The Blues missed the chance to move four points clear ahead of their final fixture to pile the pressure on Liverpool for their game with Southampton, but after coming back from two goals down the point could prove crucial in the final reckoning.
Also read: Guardiola's special message to Man City fans before title crunch
Having seen his team fight back, Guardiola told his players that it was only fair for the title race to go down to the final team because a team as good as Liverpool deserve it.
"I said to the players after the game that we could not expect any different against a team fighting to win the Premier League that is one of the most perfect teams I have seen in my life," the City boss said.
"Against this Liverpool you cannot win the league a month ago or two or three fixtures ago. You have to fight until the end.
"They fought, we fight and the big privilege we have is that it is in our hands at home. We only have to look at ourselves and we will give everything.
"I said [to the players] today not to be said because you gave a really good performance and it is fair against this opponent to arrive on the final day to decide who is the best, because both teams are too good."
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