Pep Guardiola has warned that Manchester City risk conceding the Premier League title against Liverpool.
The reigning champions returned to winning ways in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Southampton, having lost successive games against Chelsea and Leicester City.
City’s recent slump allowed the Reds to open up a seven-point gap at the league’s summit heading into their trip to the Etihad Stadium on January 3.
But Guardiola believes that his side will surrender their title defence with anything other than a win against Jurgen Klopp’s unbeaten leaders.
He said: “In the position of Liverpool, we drop points, it’s over. It’s finished.
“It would be almost impossible. Of course I think they’re going to drop points, but not too many. If we want to be there as far as possible until the end, we have to win games.
“The problem is the other team is fantastic. Maybe the best team in Europe or the world right now and in top form. You have to accept it.
“When Liverpool is seven points in front it’s because they don’t lose a game, they don’t concede, they start in incredible form, top players, all together four or five years with Jurgen.”