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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has refused to predict the Premier League title race after his side moved within three points of the summit by beating Brentford.
Erling Haaland scored the only goal of the game in the first half, with Manchester City holding on for a victory despite an unconvincing performance. And Guardiola was asked about how tight the race is at this early stage, with Liverpool two points ahead of his side side Arsenal three clear.
"It’s just seven games for the Premier League," he said. "I would say three weeks ago Liverpool apparently won the Premier League and now they have not.
"It’s important to see the team better and better. Liverpool is an incredible team, like Arsenal. The question is to improve and improve, the way we play, the way we defend, will help us to be close to fight."
Asked if he believes this season will see a lower points total be sufficient to lift the Premier League trophy, Guardiola insisted it was too early to tell.
"I don’t know," he said. "The previous seasons is higher, better, but I don’t know. One team can make an incredible run of points.
"Your job (the media) is so brave because you say what is going to happen.
"I’m not able to do that. After seven games, make an analysis, it’s too early; there is momentum, injuries.
"In Monaco I had the feeling we did many things good, today we defended better as a team. The way we are playing, not for 90 minutes, but we are better."
Gianluigi Donnarumma had to make some good saves against Brentford and Haaland, already on nine league goals this season, proved decisive, but Manchester City survived a couple of major scares in West London on Sunday.
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"I have an incredible striker and keeper," Guardiola said. "But it’s clear we missed chances in the first half. The way we played we have to be better to finish the game and be comfortable. It’s similar to Monaco.
"To have Erling there and Gigio back, they are two important pieces."
Liverpool.com says: Guardiola is right about is being far too soon to be making concrete judgments on any team. Manchester City has done well so far, but it hasn't been that convincing.
Liverpool has had a blip this week and Arsenal's will come. Each of the trio still has 31 more league fixtures to play, in which there will be plenty of twists and turns.
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