Pep Guardiola said Manchester City must now “start from zero” after a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool extended their winless run to seven games — including six defeats and four straight Premier League losses for the first time since August 2008.
Goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah — a second-half penalty — secured victory for Liverpool who moved nine points clear at the top of the table. City sit a further two points adrift in fifth place.
Guardiola was mocked with chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” by the Liverpool supporters — the City manager responded by showing six fingers to the crowd to signify the number of titles won during his time at the Etihad — and he admitted after the game that the humbling nature of the defeat at Anfield means that City must now “reset.”
“I congratulate them [Liverpool] and we’ll reset and start from zero and it is difficult to believe it,” Guardiola said. “We will restart and try and make a good run.
“We accept the reality as it is and recover. I want the team back, the players back.
“I rely a lot on these players, I know they are doing in this position. We’ll see what happens by the end of the season. I have the feeling from here that we can build something, maybe you can call me delusional, but I feel we can do it.
“The first 15, 20 minutes Liverpool were unstoppable, they started so strong, we tried to play with a lot of control and passes, but it was difficult to take it.
Guardiola, who signed a new two-year contract in November, is confident that the players will turn the situation around to repeat previous successes.
“I lived better before than now,” he said. “Even the taste of the wine, I would say it has tasted better.
“But I’m practical, I would say I’m incredible quite honest with myself. I’m fortunate to live that and now I’m not depressed.
“When I was in trouble my mum and dad never gave me away, always they were there, and now I have the feeling in the club, I want to be with these players.
“We didn’t think we can lose one game, two games. Losing six or seven is wow, it is a lot, but it is what it is, accept it.
“But we don’t have the pace in the middle right now and they [Liverpool] are stronger in the duels and you have to survive with the ball.
“We’re not good in transitions over 30-40 metres compared to them. We had to adapt and we did it. I cannot forget which players I have.
“Many times we come here in our prime and suffer, going 1-0 or 2-0 down. But we cannot compete against Liverpool, a transitional team, because they are so fast and stronger than us in those positions.
“I am here sitting as a manager and defending what we have done in the past thanks to them and more than ever I want to be with them and hug them. We have to change results and in the right time we will take the decision.”
Meanwhile, Guardiola said he still respected the Liverpool fans, despite their taunting chants towards the end of the game.
“All the stadiums want to sack me,” he said.
“”It started at Brighton! Maybe they are right with the results we’ve been having. Maybe I am still in a job because I won six Premier League titles.
“I didn’t expect that at Anfield. They didn’t do it at 1-0, but at 2-0. Maybe they should have sung it in the past.
“I didn’t expect it from the people from Liverpool but it’s fine, it’s part of the game, and I understand completely. We’ve had incredible battles together. I have a respect for them.”
