Guardiola discusses title as Man City close Liverpool gap

Joe Williams
Pep Guardiola F365

Pep Guardiola praised his side and Sergio Aguero in particular as they moved back within striking distance of Liverpool.

Aguero scored his 14th City hat-trick as the champions beat Arsenal 3-1 to cut Liverpool’s Premier League lead to two points.

Aguero, who opened the scoring after just 46 seconds, netted all three from close range as City bounced back from their midweek defeat Newcastle with a convincing display at the Etihad Stadium.

Arsenal did pose some awkward questions after finding a quick equaliser through Laurent Koscielny, but two more from Aguero either side of the break put the result beyond doubt.

There was an element of controversy over Aguero’s third after the ball struck his arm as he bundled it in, but it was not deemed deliberate.

City eased through the final stages to put the onus on Liverpool to respond at West Ham on Monday.

Guardiola begun by praising Aguero for his goalscoring instinct before insisting that he is not focusing on Liverpool’s game tomorrow.

“He was born with that talent, he will die with that talent,” Guardiola told Sky Sports.

“I understand pressure, pressure to win the games. After the game in Newcastle, Liverpool were seven points ahead and now they are two.

“Of course they have to play, they have quality, but West Ham are a good side. Now we have tomorrow to start again and think about Everton and after Chelsea. It is a tough week for us and we go game by game.

“It is important to realise what we have to do to win the games, be at our best for 90 minutes.

“We are good when we do what we have to do. I did not have any doubts in the three years I am here.”