Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City are competing against "the best Liverpool team ever" in the battle for the Premier League title.
City moved back to the top of the table with a tense 1-0 home win against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
The Etihad side are on 86 points, with Liverpool a point behind on 85. Both teams have four games remaining, with the Reds next in action at relegation-threatened Cardiff City on Sunday.
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Never before have Champions League semi-finalists Liverpool, who have been champions 18 times, won as many points at this stage of a season.
And Guardiola is convinced that highlights the achievement of his City side in being slightly ahead in the race for the championship.
"Everyone can lose against everyone in this league," said the City boss.
"Especially after 100 points last season, we have the best Liverpool ever, and one of the best sides I have played against offensively, so being still there, with having one of the best players not being involved for much of the season (Kevin De Bruyne), and being there every few days it is really remarkable, and when I appreciate the most of my players.
"Of course we want to win it, but I will not judge if at the end we cannot do it, because I will give a lot of credit to Liverpool."
Of the win against Tottenham - who eliminated City from the Champions League in dramatic fashion on Wednesday - Guardiola added: "Of course, it wasn't our best performance when you compare the two, but today they play with nothing to lose, and we could lose the Premier League.
"The defeat on Wednesday was tough to take the last two days, but we started incredibly well.
"After that, we had the game that we expected because Spurs are an incredible team. But we are there, we have suffered at times this season.
"We are still there, after last season when we did remarkable to win the league with 100 points."
