Pep Guardiola urges Manchester City to start from zero after loss against Liverpool

Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola wants his team to start from scratch after suffering a 2-0 loss against table-toppers Liverpool at the Anfield on Sunday. Cody Gakpo scored in the 12th minute to put the Reds in front.

Subsequently, Liverpool’s veteran Mohamed Salah scored from a spot kick in the 78th minute to help his team bag all three points.

With this loss, Manchester City’s winless streak extended to seven games and they will certainly need to turn a corner. City have now slipped to fifth place in the Premier League standings and they are 11 points behind table toppers Liverpool after almost one-third of the season is completed.

“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.

The Spaniard is confident that his players will turn the current situation for his team as they have done so in the past.

“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.

Manchester City will next take on Nottm Forest on Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium.