'Now it looks like Liverpool are done' - Pep Guardiola reacts to Reds' slump as Arne Slot's side leave door ajar in Premier League title defence

Following a 2024-25 season which saw City fail to claim any silverware, Guardiola’s side were considered by many bookmakers to be third favourites for this season’s league title, behind both Liverpool and Arsenal. City then saw their odds increase when they suffered successive defeats against Tottenham and Brighton in August, having beaten Wolves 4-0 in their opening league fixture.

However, City are now the name on everyone’s lips in the title race discussion, having put together a five-game unbeaten run in the league. Following victories over Manchester United, Burnley, Brentford and Everton - having also recorded a draw with Arsenal - Guardiola’s men have now risen to second in the table, three points behind Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and one point above Arne Slot’s Liverpool.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have had their title credentials questioned for the first time following a recent four-match losing streak. The Reds suffered defeats against Crystal Palace, Galatasaray, Chelsea and United before getting back on track with an impressive 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday. Slot’s men are looking to return to winning ways in the league when they travel to Brentford on Saturday evening, whereas Guardiola and City head to Aston Villa on Sunday after defeating Villarreal in their European encounter on Tuesday.

And ahead of another weekend which will see attentions return to the title race, Guardiola poked fun at pundits’ reactions to City’s early-season form when asked about Liverpool’s disappointing league results of late.

"In the first two, three games we were done and now it looks like Liverpool (who are third after three consecutive losses) are done,” Guardiola joked ahead of City’s trip to Aston Villa. "I'll tell you that we will be back.

"I've said many times that the pundits, the specialists, the former footballers know what's going to happen after five games — I'm not able to do that.

"10, 15 games to know what's going on. Liverpool and Arsenal are there, someone else will be there and hopefully we can be there.”

While the likes of Nico O’Reilly and Phil Foden have played key roles in helping City return to form, Erling Haaland has undoubtedly been the catalyst behind the 10-time champions’ being discussed as title contenders once again. The Norway international has been in remarkable goalscoring form in 2025-26, netting 15 times in just 11 games for City. The former Borussia Dortmund man has also replicated his club efforts on the international stage, scoring a hat-trick against Israel earlier this month to put his country on the brink of qualifying for next summer’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Labelling him as the “most lethal finisher of his generation”, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher said Haaland is the main reason why City’s fellow title contenders should be worried as the race to clinch English football’s biggest prize hots up.

“Arsenal came into this season worried about Liverpool being the major obstacle to ending a 21-year title wait. Now their biggest fear might be Erling Haaland,” Carragher said in The Telegraph.

“Where Arsenal have the best squad among the contenders and Liverpool must fix well-documented issues, Manchester City have the most influential player and dynamic attacker. The Norwegian is the biggest reason why Pep Guardiola’s side have a great chance of reclaiming their crown. Without him, City’s most realistic target would be finishing in the top four.

“City’s performance against Everton last weekend was relatively average for a Guardiola side. Haaland’s double elevated them to victory.

“When a title-challenging side looks so dependent on one footballer, usually that is a source for concern. Guardiola will feel blessed. Haaland is so good he can be the difference every time he plays. He is the most lethal finisher of this generation, which is why he is already worthy of comparison with past legends.

“I stand by my claim that Haaland is already the greatest goalscorer we have ever seen in England.”

While City and Liverpool take on Villa and Brentford respectively this weekend, Arteta’s Arsenal entertain Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon. The Premier League leaders head into the game in great spirits following their 4-0 victory over Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.