Manchester City's Pep Guardiola: "Everyone in this country supports Liverpool"

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes 'everyone in the UK' including both fans and the media are supporting Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

The Citizens laid down another marker in their quest to retain their crown after cruising to a 5-0 victory over Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon, a result which has seen them return to the top of the table and move three points clear of the Reds in second place.

While City are now in the driving seat to secure their fourth Premier League title in five seasons, Guardiola believes that there are many who would prefer Jurgen Klopp's side to pip them at the post to this year's trophy.

"A week ago, nobody [thought we would be champions]," the Spaniard told beIN SPORTS in his post-match interview. "Everyone in this country supports Liverpool, the media and everyone.

"Of course, Liverpool has an incredible history in Europe. Not in the Premier League, they've won one in 30 years. [But] the situation is what it is. We have to [take] nine points, maybe six right now.

"It depends what is going to happen over the next two games. Wednesday [against Wolverhampton Wanderers] is a real, real, real final for us and we are going there to try to win. Our destiny is in our hands, and this is important."

Guardiola and co will now turn their attention to their final three league games of the season, firstly facing Wolves at Molineux on Wednesday before locking horns with West Ham United and Aston Villa.

The Citizens, however, will have to cope without defensive trio Ruben Dias, Kyle Walker and John Stones as they have all been ruled out for the rest of the season due to injury, while Nathan Ake is set to miss the midweek trip to Wolves with an ankle problem.