Pep Guardiola: Manchester City gave Liverpool ‘a life’ in title race with draw

Pep Guardiola claimed Manchester City gave Liverpool “a life” by only drawing 2-2 with them, while Jürgen Klopp insisted his team would “not stop chasing” the champions, who remain a point ahead with each having seven matches left.

Goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus were cancelled out by Diogo Jota and Sadio Mané at the Etihad Stadium as City overran Liverpool in the first half before the visitors rallied impressively after the break.

Guardiola said: “I felt we let them have a life from here but Liverpool are a joy to watch, I know how good they are and there is no doubt about that but I am so proud of my team. I said to the team: ‘I don’t want one second sad.’”

Guardiola believes City have to win all of their remaining matches. “We know now that one game and a dropped result, then we will not be champions,” the Catalan said. “Will it be easy? Absolutely not but it will be difficult for them too.

“Seven games in the Premier League is a lot [to win] – they are tough games and they have tough games. I don’t know what will happen but the way we performed throughout the season and against this team to perform the way they did – I am proud. I wanted to win but it doesn’t matter. It was so good.”

Klopp compared the contest to two heavyweight boxers. “What a game. Wild,” he said. “It was a better start for City. In the first half they had a big chance [to kill Liverpool off] and that is how it is. We can describe it like a boxing fight. Both arms down for a second and you get a massive knock. You can shake it off a bit and then the next knock is coming from the other team.

“I liked a lot of things, I thought we were closer than ever. In all the moments that we played football and controlled the game and we played