Pep Guardiola message for Man City players after rare defeat helps Liverpool FC

Pep Guardiola will tell his Manchester City players it is business as usual s they look to put their first Premier League defeat in four months behind them.

The reigning champions were stunned at home to Spurs, conceding in the fourth minute of the game and throwing the match away in injury time after only drawing level in the 90th minute. Liverpool came from behind to beat Norwich and are now just six points off top spot and can move to within three if they win their game in hand against Leeds in midweek.

Guardiola was wise enough not to think that the title race was over when some proclaimed it was earlier in the season during their lengthy winning run, with everyone at City expecting a serious challenge from Jurgen Klopp’s side.

That mentality makes responding to Saturday’s defeat easier, since the squad know the title race is still in their hands and can focus on getting back to winning ways without worrying about their rivals closing in.

“We have time all week. We performed well, like we normally do but [Tottenham] defended in the 18-yard box and it is so difficult,” said Guardiola

“We lost a game. We were close to a draw, and maybe winning, but congratulations to Spurs. We recover with training sessions and prepare the next game.

“We have to fight for every game and every game we are going to win we will be closer. I said weeks ago we have to make a lot of points to be champions and this is what we will try to do.”