The latest Premier League news as Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola speaks about his out-of-form side before their Boxing Day clash against Everton.
Pep Guardiola has admitted that Manchester City are “at risk” of missing out on Champions League qualification this season after falling behind Liverpool in the title race. The Reds currently hold a 12-point lead over City in the Premier League standings – and also have a game in hand to boot.
Arne Slot has been enjoying his first season as Liverpool’s new head coach, with the Reds currently holding a four-point lead over second-placed Chelsea with a game in hand going into Boxing Day. Leicester City travel to Anfield for the festive fixture as Slot’s men aim to secure another three points.
Many pundits and bookmakers have listed Liverpool as the overwhelming favourites to win the Premier League this season, while some have gone so far as to rule City out entirely. It’s not just in England where the Reds have shown their superiority, either.
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Liverpool are top of the Champions League standings, too, while they are the only club with a 100 per cent record after their first six fixtures. City, meanwhile, are in 22nd with just eight points, meaning they cannot finish in the top eight and are in danger of not finishing in the top 24 spots to reach the play-off round.
Five Premier League clubs could qualify for next season’s Champions League, thanks to England’s current spot in UEFA’s coefficient rankings. Liverpool will be hoping that the added security of a fifth-place spot is not necessary, but that will not be the case for City.
With Liverpool at the top of the table, City are in seventh and Guardiola has admitted that both he – and the club – have a challenge to qualify for the Champions League next season. “Now we’re at risk, of course we are, definitely,” Guardiola told The Manchester Evening News.
“You have to get points and win games, otherwise we won’t qualify for the Champions League. If we don’t qualify it is because we don’t deserve it, because we were not prepared, because we had a lot of problems and we didn’t solve those problems and find a way to win games.
“There are of lot of contenders to be there. For every club, it is so important and if we are not winning games, we will be out.”
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