Pep guardiolas

Guardiola inspires Man City masterclass, Liverpool face Everton test (Photo: Youtube/ BeanymanSports) Liverpool were expected to push City all the way but the champions have stumbled so badly that their only concern going into the Merseyside derby against Everton is getting back into the top four. Chelsea, in action at Southampton, hold that lucrative fourth Champions League berth thanks to an impressive unbeaten start to Thomas Tuchel's reign. Guardiola's masterpiece When the final whistle blew on Manchester City's 17th successive victory in all competitions, Pep Guardiola was one step closer to the most impressive feat of his five years in the Premier League. City's composed 3-1 dismissal of Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday left them 10 points clear of second-placed Manchester United with 14 games left. They are the first English top-flight side to begin a calendar year with 10 successive league wins. Guardiola has already won two Premier League titles, three League Cups and the FA Cup with City. But finding a way to navigate through City's poor start to the season while also dealing with the loss of all-time leading scorer Sergio Aguero for most of the campaign and a significant Covid-19 outbreak in the camp burnishes his legacy. Guardiola's astute tactical tweaks have been key to the revival, but he knows the dangers of resting on his laurels during a hectic programme. "Winning 10 straight games at the start of the calendar year is nice but next is Arsenal," he said. "It's better you don't see the schedule, otherwise you get depressed. But at the same time, it's a beautiful challenge." Liverpool revenge mission As Virgil van Dijk lay in agony on the Goodison Park turf, Liverpool's season began a painful decline that still haunts them five months later. Van Dijk has not played since suffering knee damage after an ugly challenge from Everton keeper Jordan Pickford during that 2-2 draw in October. The absence of the imperious …

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Dias makes case for Man City defence as Liverpool struggle (photo: youtube/Man City) Pep Guardiola's men have conceded just two goals in their past 13 league games, winning nine in a row to open up a seven-point lead over fourth-placed Liverpool, with a game in hand. Liverpool took City's crown as champions last season, romping to a first league title in 30 years. But the contrasting fortunes at centre-back for both clubs this season have helped City reassert their position as the team to beat in English football. After a humbling 5-2 home defeat by Leicester in their second game of the season, City splashed out £62 million ($85 million) on Ruben Dias from Benfica. In 27 games, the Portuguese international has been on the losing side just once and has kept 18 clean sheets, forming a formidable partnership with a revitalised John Stones. So strong has that pairing been that Aymeric Laporte -- the bedrock of the City defence that denied Liverpool the title by a point in the 2018/19 season -- has largely been left in reserve along with another £40 million summer centre-back signing, Nathan Ake. "We knew the quality he had on the pitch, we knew a little bit his personality, but we have been impressed at the consistency to be ready mentally and physically to play every three days," said Guardiola on Dias's impact. Despite injuries to Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero, City's attacking play has begun to click into gear in recent weeks. - Clean sheets - But their revival from mid-table obscurity after they last lost in the Premier League to Tottenham in November began with a series of clean sheets to win low-scoring games against Fulham, Southampton, Newcastle and Brighton. "This season we don't make the mistakes that we did (in the past) to give opponents easy goals," added Guardiola. "Many things help to be champions. When one or two things drop a little it is difficult to get it." In contrast to the wealth of centre-back options available to …

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Five-star Man City move top of the Premier League (photo: Youtube/ Man City) Ilkay Gundogan scored twice, while Joao Cancelo, Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling were also on target as Pep Guardiola's men moved a point ahead of local rivals Manchester United at the top of the table. "Good result, in general a good performance and three more points," said a satisfied Guardiola. United can move back in front when they host bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United on Wednesday, but on the evidence of recent weeks City will take some stopping if they are to be denied a third title in four years. Liverpool and City have battled for Premier League supremacy over the past three seasons. But Liverpool's five-game winless league run has allowed City to open up a seven-point lead over the champions. The Baggies were the last side to take points off the leaders with a shock 1-1 draw at the Etihad last month that still was not enough to save Slaven Bilic from the sack. However, the appointment of Sam Allardyce has so far done little to boost West Brom's chances of survival as they remain second from bottom, six points off safety. In four home games since the former England manager took charge, West Brom have conceded 17 goals without reply. City made light of the absence of Kevin De Bruyne with the Belgian expected to be out for at least a month due to a hamstring injury. Phil Foden was denied by a brilliant save by Sam Johnstone even before Gundogan opened the floodgates on six minutes. - Golden Gundogan - The German has already established himself as City's major goalscoring threat from midfield in recent weeks and his sky-high confidence was on show with a curled finish into the far corner from the edge of the area. "When he plays close to the box, he has that sense to make good runs to the box," added Guardiola. "The quality with the ball was always there." Allardyce's men had a tough enough task to find a route back into the game against a side that …

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