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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about his message for his players before the Liverpool game following Arsenal's draw
Pep Guardiola told his players to forget about Arsenal's result before Manchester City moved closer to the top of the table with their biggest Premier League win in two seasons.
The Blues began this campaign as third-favourites to win the league after a chastening year which saw them lose home and away to Liverpool, who went on to stroll to the title. However, they are now four points off first spot after a huge 3-0 victory over Liverpool.
Both teams were encouraged before kick-off by Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Sunderland, which saw the Gunners lose their impressive clean sheet streak and also concede a late equaliser. However, the result still required one of the title challengers at the Etihad to take their opportunity to get closer.
City were able to do that as they barely gave Liverpool a kick in a strong 3-0 home victory that stands them out as title challengers. That was the message Guardiola wanted his players to give as he looks for them to turn the form of the last two months into something they can maintain across the season.
"I'm pretty sure when Arsenal had the equaliser at Sunderland I'm not surprised because of what Sunderland are doing," he said. "I think Liverpool and us said 'oh wow, Arsenal dropped points finally and conceded two goals'.
"Because in that moment of their run they said it would not happen. But at the end we have to do it and I said to the players don't do it because yesterday Arsenal didn't win.
"You have to do it because we believe in ourselves that we can play against the champions of England and show them we are able to be there with them all this season. Today we proved it, we did it - especially in the first half.
"The first half was really good offensively and defensively. The second half, we always talk about the duels and everyone has the mindset of winning duels - what happens when I have the ball and keep the ball and make an extra pass.
"We talk a lot in these two or three days about that. What happened in the first 10 minutes of the second half we were alone when we lost duels and that made things more difficult.
"It was more difficult for Rayan [Cherki] because the space was more in the left side for the way they defend but the back four, Nico, Bernie and Phil were outstanding and I'm really pleased for the game."
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