EPL: Guardiola calls for fresh start after Liverpool defeat

Pep Guardiola admitted that Manchester City must “reset and start from scratch” after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday, marking their sixth loss in seven matches.

Liverpool extended their Premier League lead over fifth-placed City to 11 points, while moving nine points clear of Arsenal and Chelsea with another dominant performance.

Cody Gakpo’s early strike and a Mohamed Salah penalty 13 minutes from time secured Liverpool’s 18th win in 20 games under manager Arne Slot.

“I congratulate Liverpool, they deserve the victory and we accept the situation right now and we’ll build from that,” said Guardiola.

“We’ll reset and start from zero… We’ll see what happens by the end of the season.”

Guardiola was taunted with chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” as Liverpool fans celebrated in the final moments of the match. In response, he raised six fingers, one for each of his Premier League titles won in the last seven seasons.

For years, Liverpool had been forced to play second fiddle to City under Jurgen Klopp. However, under Arne Slot, the Reds’ remarkable form is now threatening to end the title race well before Christmas.

“I don’t think anyone, including myself, would have predicted this,” Slot admitted.

“I knew Jurgen left the team in a very good place. But still, to win so much with all the difficult teams we have played already is not something you could predict at the start of the season.

“But I saw Arsenal yesterday and Chelsea today and I saw City, they will come back because these teams have so much quality. They could go on the same run as us. So we have to stay sharp and focused.”