Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola admits Sergio Aguero is out of Sunday's clash with Liverpool.
Guardiola has confirmed Aguero will not be available for the match against Liverpool.
"He is not ready, not yet," said Guardiola.
"It's always nice to play against the strongest teams possible. Last year Liverpool were stronger. They have been an exceptional team for a long time, with an exceptional manager.
"It is nice to face them to improve our level. We know how good we need to be to beat them."
City host Liverpool this Sunday knowing a win would move them within two points of the champions with a game in hand.
"When you play against teams like Liverpool you always have moments where you have to suffer," says Guardiola.
"We'll try to use it to our strengths as much as possible. We have played each other many times. There will be up and down moments. We need to take our chances and be clinical.
"It will be important to arrive in the last five or ten games fighting for the title. Hopefully we will be there.
"The important thing is to win the title. It doesn't matter how many points you get. Sometimes it is more, sometimes less.
"The first time we won 100 points. Maybe we didn't need to but we did. All we can do is focus on ourselves and the improvement we need to try and win."
