Liverpool Boss not overseeing Man City’s chance to win the title race

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said it would be the “biggest joke” in the history of football” to strike off Manchester City’s name from the Premier League title race.

The defending champions were swamped at Villa Park on Wednesday as the likes of Unai Emery’s men defeated them 1-0 to move one step ahead of them at the points table in the third position. Pep Guardiola’s side is now without a win in straight four league matches and has six points less than the league toppers Arsenal. 

Klopp, whose side Liverpool filled the gap of two points on Arsenal with a win at Sheffield United, feels like it “makes no sense” to come near a judgement on City’s rankings at this stage in the season.

"If somebody would write City off that would be the biggest joke in the history of football," Klopp voiced after Wednesday's win at Bramall Lane.

"Arsenal are fighting and had a similar experience we had [late win vs Fulham]. It feels really good but anyway you have to start the next game from 0-0.

"Aston Villa is incredible. United is there, don't play yet maybe exactly the football whoever wants - the media or whatever - but they have points like crazy.

"Chelsea, I'm not sure if they're coming. The league is incredibly strong, you need to be lucky to get through difficult moments, with injuries especially. So I have no clue [who will win the title].

"Probably. It was the last years, always two. I'm not interested in that, so long as we're around there. But it's so difficult and intense. Ask me again in April."

Villa enters the title race, says the Man City Boss

Pep Guardiola expressed that he believes Aston Villa must be considered as a powerful contender for the Premier League silverware after they overshadowed his treble-winning side at the Villa Park on Wednesday, December 7. 

When asked if Unai Emery’s side have what it takes to get their hands on the greatest English title, Guardiola said, "Yeah, definitely.

"For the way they are playing, when you are there and see the physicality, the tempo, the speed, the bench, the organisation from Unai Emery, the set pieces and high pressing in medium block, how incredible they defend the back four, the goalkeeper. Absolutely."

On the other side, the Aston Villa boss disagrees with Guardiola whom they defeated for the first time on Wednesday night at their 14th face-off. 

"We are not contenders," he stated after the match. "We are now at game 15, we are going to play game 16 against Arsenal. We are happy to be third. To keep it is going to be very difficult. While we are there, we are trying to keep it."

When asked to talk about why he thinks that his side is not in the title race, Emery added: "There are other teams that are contenders at the beginning. We are at game 15. There are still lots of matches to play.

"If we are keeping it progressing during the season, playing matches and winning like we are doing then maybe we can become contenders. We need more time. We can believe, but we are not contenders."