Pep Guardiola urges Manchester City to thrive under pressure from Liverpool

Pep Guardiola has told his Manchester City players they must thrive under the pressure being put on them by Liverpool as they fight to retain their Premier League crown.

City cruised to a 2-0 win over Burnley on Saturday which was more comfortable than the scoreline suggested, but needed the three points after Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Watford at lunchtime had sent Jurgen Klopp’s side temporarily top of the table.

Liverpool have now won 10 in a row in the league, briefly overturning what had been a 13-point deficit to City in January and, with the two teams due to face each other at the Etihad Stadium next Sunday, Guardiola knows there is no room for error.

“There are eight games left, 24 (points),” he said. “We have to feel the pressure. Every game, if we lose, we are not going to win (the title), simple as that.

“Hopefully Liverpool are going to lose against us, apart from that I don’t think they will drop points.

“We have to feel the pressure, we have to handle it. What we did in the past, when we won 14 games in a row, now we have to win eight, otherwise we will not be champions.”

Saturday’s match turned into a stroll for City after Kevin De Bruyne marked his 200th Premier League appearance for the club with a fifth-minute goal and Ilkay Gundogan doubled the advantage midway through the first half, with Raheem Sterling setting up both.

The England man missed a chance to score himself late in the first half, then saw substitute Gabriel Jesus fire over from another cross in the second half to deny him a hat-trick of assists.

That could be Guardiola’s only complaint as City eased back into gear following the international break, going into a huge week which sees the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final