'They have had no injuries' - Pep Guardiola makes Liverpool title claim as Man City problem exposed

Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola has claimed Liverpool's march towards the Premier League title has been aided by a lack of injuries this term.

the City boss feels his side would have mounted a much better defence of their crown had they not had a litany of fitness issues

Goals from Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai were enough on Sunday as the leaders went 11 clear of Arsenal

City were without John Stones, Erling Haaland, Manuel Akanji, Oscar Bobb and current Ballon d'Or holder Rodri for the match.

The defeat was City's 14th in 41 games this term and while Guardiola was forced to concede Arne Slot's side are a "fantastic team", he also suggested the Reds have been able to avoid any lengthy setbacks for key players

Guardiola

“I don't know what would have happened if everyone was here,"

"I don't know if Liverpool would be able to win the Premier League. They are a fantastic team and they are similar in details.

"They have had no injuries and that is why they could be a stable team and we could not do it. And it is what it is.

“You cannot achieve what you want all the time. I know how difficult it will be to qualify for the Champions League. I am really pleased with how we have behaved against Newcastle and today.”

“I don't want to say if we had Erling Haaland we would have won because that is unfair on the players who played today and gave everything.

“Of course, with Erling we are a better team. With Rodri we are a better team. With John Stones and Akanji we are a better team and for many reasons with other players we are a better team."

Guardiola added:

"Always with me, the amount of times we arrived in the box the next moment we missed the next action. Our pressing was good.

“We just missed that in the last moment to do something, that was the performance we know. Against that team, we were really good in many things.

"It was a good set-piece [for the first goal]. I don't know if I defend better and sometimes it is not easy if it is a plan.

“We have the chances and it was the little details that could have gone differently. The wingers were brilliant and in that moment we need to bring the next step. That is what we missed."

Liverpool's victory on Sunday was their first at the Etihad since 2015 and leaves them 11 ahead of Arsenal