'We played really good'- Pep Guardiola insists Man City have 'bright future' after being comfortably beaten at home by Liverpool

Liverpool comfortably beat the reigning English champions 2-0 courtesy of first-half goals from Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai as they extended their lead over second-placed Arsenal to 11 points in the league table. Several City stars were absent from the starting lineup on Sunday as Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan were left on the bench, while Erling Haaland was kept out of the matchday squad due to a knee injury.

While the inexperienced Cityzens' side were completely outplayed by Arne Slot's men, who now move close to the Premier League, manager Guardiola came to his team's defence as he praised the youngsters' resilience against a much superior side.

He told the BBC: "They always have the threat but it is not easy to control it. We dropped them. Through our pressing or build-up, dropped the team there. I think Doku and Savinho played an incredible game and get to the byline a lot but then just from there we missed the magic. We played really good so I have no regrets. The chances in the final third, when we want to shoot and cross, for the amount we arrived there we did not create much.

"I saw a bright future. Other than than Kevin [de Bruyne] and Nathan [Ake], they are the future of this club in the next years, with others who will come in future windows. So many players are here playing but we know Erling [Haaland] will come and we have important absences. Everyone was really, really good. The first goal from the corner but we tried to play and I know how the opponent will play. Second half they were 11 players in the box. We did well because they don't want to do that. Big compliment to them but I am very pleased with the way we play."

Manchester City will aim to get back to winning ways on Wednesday as they travel to North London to take on Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.