Friday 30 December 2016 16:23, UK
Pep Guardiola has admitted that Manchester City still cannot compare with Liverpool or Manchester United in terms of history and success.
Guardiola's City travel to Anfield on New Year's Eve in the midst of a fierce battle for the Premier League title, for which Liverpool are firm contenders, the Spaniard insists.
Guardiola says he was invited by the Reds to watch their 4-1 thrashing of Stoke City on Tuesday and he was impressed by a team just a single point and place above them in the table.
"I saw Liverpool this year many times. They are definitely contenders (for the title)," he said.
"It was my day off, my family was not here and I decide to take a car. Thank you, Liverpool, for inviting me, for the tickets. I saw the game and that's all. We have to equal their intensity. Anfield will play a big role.
"Of course City cannot compare to what Liverpool and (Manchester) United did in the last 30 or 40 years. We must go step-by-step. That is the best way to get better.
"What happens in the past stays in the past. Manchester City is a historic club but a new club in terms of the target.
"There are six teams fighting for the title, especially for the first four positions, fighting for the next Champions League.
"I saw the contenders and they are really tough teams. So it will be a good fight until the end of the season."
Sergio Aguero is poised to return to City's starting line-up after finishing a four-match ban, while centre-back John Stones is also expected to be fit for a crucial clash at the top.
And Guardiola said: "Sergio is ready. He has come back good from Argentina. Finally he is back after the ban, and we are happy he is back.
"John Stones is much, much better. Vincent Kompany and Leroy Sane, I think they are not available to play."
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