Pep Guardiola: 'Liverpool are definitely title rivals'

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has said that Liverpool are "definitely a contender" for the Premier League title this season.

The Reds are currently second in the table - six points behind league leaders Chelsea and one point above third-placed Man City, who will make the trip to Anfield on Saturday night.

Guardiola has revealed that he is looking forward to locking horns with former Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp once again, but is expecting a difficult game against a Liverpool side that are unbeaten on home soil this term.

"Yes, they are definitely a contender [for the Premier League]. It was a good game I saw. I saw Liverpool this year many times. But 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," Guardiola told reporters.

"I was lucky to play before against Jurgen and I think we know each quite well. 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."

Just four points separate fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur from second-placed Liverpool ahead of this weekend's Premier League fixtures.