EPL: Guardiola claims title race “easy” for Liverpool after Leicester win

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has claimed the Premier League title race is “easy” for Liverpool because they are not playing under the same pressure as his team.

City moved back to the top of the Premier League on Monday, thanks to a 1-0 home defeat of Leicester City.

Guardiola takes his side to Brighton & Hove Albion for the final fixture of the campaign, knowing a 14th consecutive league win would seal a successful title defence.

Liverpool have pushed City all the way, with Jurgen Klopp’s side winning their past eight Premier League matches.

“The problem is the way we played,” Guardiola told reporters when asked if recent victories have been mentally draining for his team.

“We won 1-0 in Burnley but we didn’t concede one corner, one shot on target. We controlled the games. We are a much better team than the opponents.

“What we have to do when you play a game is try to be better than the opponents, we were better than the opponents the last two or three months. Win or lose, we will see.

“Sometimes you need a goal like Vinnie today. Sometimes in [off] the post. Sometimes the penalties not given again. Two times in a row no penalty given, so 2-0 for the opponents.

“It was outstanding the way we played in the second half, especially the character and the personality. Knowing how difficult it is to handle the emotions to play. Knowing if you don’t win you cannot be champions.

“At the end Liverpool play right now without pressure because they know it is not in their hands. So it is easy to play in these kind of games.

“We have the pressure because we can’t lose because it is in our own hands. We deserve to be in that position. One more game and we will try it.”