‘What it is’ – Pep Guardiola address Man City concerns as Liverpool title race takes fresh twist
Manchester City’s defeat to Bournemouth allowed Liverpool to take their place at the top of the Premier League table
Pep Guardiola has refused to blame Manchester City’s injuries problems as the reason behind their shock defeat to Bournemouth, which allowed Liverpool to retake top spot in the Premier League. The Reds lead the table by two points after a 2-1 comeback win over Brighton.
Arne Slot and Liverpool are now on an 11-game unbeaten run across all competitions, having accumulated 16 points out of the last possible 18 in the Premier League. They have the best defensive record in the top-flight too, conceding just six goals in 10 matches.
Man City meanwhile suffered their first defeat in 33 Premier League games as Bournemouth ran out 2-1 winners, having beaten Arsenal 2-0 last month. The Gunners themselves are now seven points adrift of Liverpool and winless in three league games having lost 1-0 to Newcastle United earlier on Saturday.
Both clubs have a number of key players sidelined with Arsenal having to deal without captain Martin Odegaard and Man City losing Rodri for the season. However, Guardiola is adamant that the absence of five injured players was not the reason for Saturday’s defeat.
“It is what it is,” he said of the injury situation to BBC Sport, with Ruben Dias, John Stones, Jack Grealish and Oscar Bobb also all sidelined. “We have few players with a lot of minutes and a lot of players with no minutes to the balance is a bit uncomfortable.
“We played good against Spurs [in midweek 2-1 League Cup defeat]. But today we could not handle their intensity that they had and that’s why we lost the game.”
He added to Sky Sports: “Kyle [Walker], 16 days didn’t train with us until yesterday. Nathan [Ake] made an incredible effort – [but] it’s not just about [injuries].”
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has fresh injury concerns
In his post-match press conference, Guardiola said his side struggled to cope with the vigour of Bournemouth. “We could not match the players’ intensity,” the City boss admitted.
“The situation with long balls, we could not win it and when you don’t win those sort of balls to [opening goalscorer Antoine] Semenyo or the strikers, we have to defend deeper.
“We struggled to make our build up and especially for the rhythm they put in the game. They were higher than us and we could not handle it.
“They are fast, I know, but today was more than often because our play was not clean, especially with these sorts of balls when you don’t win it.
“It was not the transitions when we are in the final third and after that we lose the ball and the transition didn’t happen much.
“It was more that when we are high pressing, long balls and you lose the ball lose the duel, win the second ball and after that they run.
“After that, always happened. In the past we were able to handle these situations and today we could not. Sometimes the opponents are better and you have to accept it.”
