Pep Guardiola delivers worrying update on Ederson after seeing Man City No.1 limp off during Liverpool draw as he looks ahead to 'difficult' clash with new Premier League leaders Arsenal

Guardiola was coy in his response about the fitness of Ederson and refused to give away any detail. The Brazilian could not continue after Darwin Nunez clattered into his outstretched leg to win a penalty, which Alexis Mac Allister converted, and had to be replaced by Stefan Ortega. The 1-1 draw means Arsenal remain top of the tree and a threat to Guardiola and City's crown.

Guardiola gave a short answer about Ederson's injury. He said to BeIN Sports: "It doesn't look good."

On the title race, the City boss expressed his concern about his team's performance levels in comparison to the league leaders, who they are due to face on March 31. To HaytersTV, he said: "It will be difficult. We need 98/99 minutes to draw a game, Arsenal need 25 minutes to go 3-0 up.

"We know the standards. We saw it when Arsenal made 50 points in the first [half] of last season. We know it and we make our standards, even in [our] best. Everyone rises to the position they are in and I am not surprised by the situation right now."

Arsenal have been in remarkable form since the turn of the new year, racing to significant leads early on in games and putting themselves out of sight of opponents. Storming victories against West Ham, Burnley, Newcastle and Sheffield United underscored the attacking dominance of the Gunners in recent weeks - however, last night's testing victory against Brentford posed familiar questions of Arsenal's temperament in big moments.

Guardiola may be using his words as a challenge to his usually unstoppable side to start steamrolling opposition in the way we have become accustomed to with City. They continue their FA Cup defence against Newcastle next weekend before turning their attention to Arsenal's visit to the Etihad Stadium.