Liverpool are a team that can challenge for the Premier League title this season.
That is the view of Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola, who paid tribute to his rivals today.
The two teams are going head to head in the Premier League in the early kickoff on Saturday.
Asked about the Reds, Guardiola told reporters: I think we are old friends, know each other quite well, the time goes forward, eight or nine years, not the same players they have TAA [Trent Alexander-Arnold] inside or outside but the idea is similar, always they've been our best rivals.
Last season they had many injures, but top club top team and we are looking forward to it."
He then compared the rivalry to Barcelona vs. Real Madrid, adding: It's different, if you compare it to Barca and Real, City not been there in 20, 30 years but Liverpool were. The last decade they've been our best rivals and that's the reality, and still we are there that's a big compliment that after many years we are still there."
On the way his team must approach the game emotionally, he finished: It's not balance, its how many players are available, what we need to beat them, we try to impose our game, knowing how difficult it is. Of course we have already played 11 tough games.
Honestly, I could not expect to be in this position,. We have five teams so tight, but we are there. It's an important game vs Liverpool, Aston Villa, Tottenham. December is so tight, lot of competitions, we have the World Cup in Saudi Arabia. January is more relaxed."
