‘I have to prove myself’, says Guardiola ahead of Liverpool clash

Pep Guardiola has said he must 'prove' he can put an end to Manchester City's poor form and guide them back to the top.

Guardiola's side are without a win in six games and gave up a 3-0 lead against Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday, although that ended their five-match losing streak.

City have lost their last three Premier League games, as many as in their previous 47 games combined (W35 D9). They last lost four in a row between April and August 2008, while they last did so in the same season between January and March 2007 (five).

Their next outing is against Liverpool at Anfield – a venue where they have won just once in their last 21 Premier League games, with Liverpool winning 13 and drawing the remaining seven.

“Of course it's not fun, but what do you expect? That everything is red carpet? That everything is nice and easy?” said Guardiola.

'It's easy when you are [winning] 10, 12 games in a row, everyone is fit, everyone is in their prime and everyone is 26, 27, 28. When everything goes well, it's easy.

“I have to prove myself now.”

Guardiola, who signed a new two-year contract extension this month, has won 18 major trophies during his time at the club, including City's first-ever Champions League in 2023 and six Premier League titles.

The new contract will see the Spaniard spend more than a decade at the club, making him City's longest-serving manager since Les McDowall in 1963.

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But Guardiola hinted he could leave Manchester if he cannot turn around the club's season.

“In long careers – nine, 10, 11 years – you live with all the situations. We lost five games, drew the last one when we should have won, but that happens sometimes in football,” the 53-year-old said.

“[I have to] accept it. No complaining, no blaming, no pointing. Don't run away from your responsibility. I have absolutely everything on my shoulders. I have it and I want it.

“At this football club you have to win. If you don't, you will get into trouble. I know people say: 'Why isn't Pep in trouble, why isn't Pep fired?' I have this margin because of what we have done over the past eight years. People trust me.

“What is certain is that I want to stay. But as soon as I feel that I am not positive for the club, there will be another one. We will come back, I know that. I don't know when.”

“In the situation we are in, it is not realistic to think about big goals. The situation is to think about the next match and what I can do to help the players. I don't want to run away. I have to asked for this opportunity I want to be there and rebuild the team in many ways from now until the end of the season and next season.”

Sunday's match will be the first-ever meeting between Guardiola and Arne Slot, who has made a good start to his role at Liverpool by putting them eight points ahead of City after 12 games.