Pep Guardiola claims Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are the toughest opponents he has ever faced because they have “absolutely everything”.
Guardiola battled Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid with Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund with Bayern Munich, but says Liverpool are more formidable foes.
Manchester City pipped Klopp’s men by just one point in last season’s title race and Guardiola knows the Blues face a huge challenge to overhaul them again.
“The opponent we have is the strongest opponent I have faced in my career as a manager - Liverpool,” said the City boss.
“I said it when we were in front, I said it when they were in front, I said it when we won, I said it when we lose, I’ve said many times because they have absolutely everything, in the positioning game, in the counter-attack, set-pieces, transitions, Anfield, the stadium.
“I know how difficult it was, I know how difficult it is and will be. But that’s the challenge we have.”
City clawed back Liverpool’s 10-point lead at the halfway point of last season and Guardiola refuses to panic at being five points adrift of them following his side’s shock loss to Norwich.
He is not worried about Liverpool’s advantage when only five games have been played.
“After watching the game against Norwich I was not really upset by the way we played,” he said.
“I was upset against Newcastle because after one minute, we forgot to play. But the game against Norwich that didn’t happen.
“We accept it. It doesn’t happen many times. I’m relaxed. When we lose, I’m not depressed. It’s going to happen. There are 99 points to play for, we are five behind, 99 still to play, let’s see how many we can get.”
