Champions League: Pep Guardiola says Liverpool can stop Man City

Pep Guardiola believes Liverpool are the team capable of stopping his Manchester City side winning the Champion League this season.

City were in scintillating form away at Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night, scoring five goals without reply in the Portuguese capital.

Bernardo Silva netted a brace in the rout while Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling also got themselves on the scoresheet.

City now have one foot and four toes in the Champions League quarter-finals. Guardiola can even afford to give some of his key players a well-deserved night off for next month’s second leg.

This was a sensational team performance from the reigning Premier League champions, who are arguably the best team in Europe right now.

Aiming to win the Champions League for the first time in their history, after suffering that gut-wrenching defeat to Chelsea in last season’s final, City look like the team to beat following their emphatic 5-0 victory in Lisbon.

After the match, Guardiola was asked by former Manchester United and City goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel if any club can beat his in-form team.

Schmeichel said: “On current form, you’re scoring with nearly every chance, even in the Premier League. What team out there can beat you?”

One team immediately sprang to Guardiola’s mind.

“Liverpool,” the City boss responded. “They are six points behind us. They’ve been our biggest rivals in the past few seasons and are always there – a pain in the a**, all the time! They are a fantastic team in Europe.”

Yep, that’s right: Guardiola called Liverpool a “pain in the a**” in his post-match interview.

He also said Liverpool were six points behind City in the Premier League table but this isn’t true – yet.

Jurgen Klopp’s side will be six points behind