Watch Manchester City host Leicester on Monday, live on Sky Sports; coverage begins at 7pm, with kick-off at 8pm
Friday 3 May 2019 18:58, UK
Pep Guardiola insists Liverpool will not be affected by their defeat to Barcelona as they continue to battle his Manchester City side for the Premier League title.
The Reds were beaten 3-0 by Barca at the Nou Camp in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, leaving them with a mountain to climb to reach their second successive final in the competition.
They are hot on the heels of City in the fight for the Premier League title, however, with Guardiola's side leading the way by just one point with two matches to play.
The former Barca boss does not believe Liverpool's defeat to his old side will throw them off course though, saying: "I don't think so. I think the game was incredibly good. Both sides were incredible.
"Liverpool were outstanding. I enjoyed it a lot watching them. They fought a lot.
"Of course Newcastle [Liverpool's next opponent] is not easy, like Leicester is not easy, so we are going to see what happens but they are going to be well prepared to try to win the game."
Lionel Messi scored twice in the win over Liverpool - the second of which was 600th goal for the club - and asked if he was the difference, Guardiola said: "Yes.
"But Barcelona defended very well. They beat an incredible team in Liverpool. Liverpool must be proud. They played in the most difficult stadium in the world with a lot of courage and personality."
City's penultimate league game sees them face Leicester on Monday, live on Sky Sports, who will arrive at the Etihad Stadium with Jamie Vardy in fine form.
The striker has scored 11 goals in his last 11 games, and Guardiola has been impressed, saying: "His career speaks for itself. He has done incredible in this league. He's an incredible striker; his movement, finishing, fighting.
"It helps that before Leicester were a counter-attacking team and he could make runs in behind. Now with Brendan Rodgers, they have added another way to play.
"Brendan has shown his incredible qualities as a manager, to have in two months his team play already the way he wants to play.
"They are such fast players and have incredible quality. I saw their last three games and I was really impressed. The players know it will be an incredible task for us."
Guardiola knows that a win over Leicester, followed by victory at Brighton on the final day, will secure a second successive Premier League title for City.
However, he admits he may be without injured midfielders Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho for both games. When asked if they could be back before the end of the season, he said: "I don't know.
"I didn't speak with the doctors because when they start to go to the training pitch and run, that's when you realise they are coming back soon. But they are still in the gym."
