Pep Guardiola issues strong response to Liverpool closing gap on Man City

Pep Guardiola says Manchester City will sleep happily at the top of the Premier League for another 14 days despite seeing Liverpool close in on them.

Jurgen Klopp's side picked up another impressive win this week, beating Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates, to move to within one point of the defending champions at the top of the table. Liverpool have won their last nine league matches and are also challenging for the FA Cup and Champions League having already claimed the Carabao Cup.

City are also where they want to be in three competitions though, including the league. They may have dropped points in recent weeks but still have the title race in their control - including hosting Liverpool next month at the Etihad, where their opponents have an awful record against them.

READ MORE:Every word from Pep Guardiola press conference before Southampton match

Guardiola is looking forward to the challenge of facing Southampton again as he aims to make the FA Cup semi-finals for the fourth successive season, and is confident about the position where his team find themselves.

"It is what it is. We are going to sleep [the next] 14 days top of the league and after we come back from the international break then nine games of Premier League. I think everyone knows what we have to do. It’s a marvellous challenge, we’ll be there to face them. Start with Burnley and nine games.

"We are leading right now in the Premier League. I don't know if we will win but the destiny is in our hands."

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