Guardiola Warns City Must Improve to Overtake Arsenal

Pep Guardiola has declared that Manchester City are now “breathing down the necks” of Premier League leaders Arsenal following a sensational comeback victory against Liverpool at Anfield. However, the Catalan tactician delivered a sober warning: his side must elevate their performance levels if they are to successfully reel in the Gunners and defend their crown.

A Historic Night on Merseyside

The landscape of the title race shifted dramatically on Sunday. For much of the second half, City appeared destined for a defeat that would have left them trailing Arsenal by nine points. Dominik Szoboszlai had sent the home crowd into raptures with a sublime 74th-minute free-kick, but City’s resilience—championed by late goals from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland—secured a 2-1 win. Remarkably, this marked City’s first victory at a full-capacity Anfield since 2003.

Reflecting on the stakes, Bernardo Silva admitted, “The title race would have been over had we lost this game.” Guardiola, while slightly more optimistic, acknowledged the mountain still to climb, noting that Arsenal’s consistency makes a six-point gap a formidable challenge.

The Road to the Title

Guardiola emphasised that “improving a little bit” would be insufficient to catch Mikel Arteta’s side. With 13 games remaining, including a pivotal head-to-head clash at the Etihad Stadium, the margin for error is non-existent.

“Thirteen games in the Premier League is a lot,” Guardiola remarked. “When you enter the final stretch, every team—especially those in a relegation battle—becomes a ‘proper’ opponent. They have weeks to prepare while we juggle the FA Cup and Champions League. That is why we must stay close, apply pressure, and be ready to pounce if Arsenal slip.”

Controversies and “Common Sense”

The match was not without its share of officiating drama. Rayan Cherki appeared to have scored a third for City from the halfway line in the 100th minute, only for it to be ruled out. Instead, Szoboszlai was sent off for a professional foul on Haaland during the build-up. Guardiola oddly argued for “common sense,” suggesting the goal should have stood and the red card rescinded so the Liverpool man could play in his next fixture.

Conversely, Liverpool boss Arne Slot was left fuming over an earlier incident involving Marc Guéhi. The defender, who narrowly missed a move to Liverpool last summer, escaped with only a yellow card after pulling back Mohamed Salah during a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

Statistical Breakdown: The Title Race Intensity

As the season enters its final trimester, the psychological pressure is mounting. Manchester City have the experience, but as Guardiola suggested, they now need the perfection to match it.