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MANCHESTER, England — Pep Guardiola joked that he could not help but swear after Liverpool’s last-minute winner against Tottenham on Sunday.
Manchester City were set to remain top of the Premier League with a game in hand until Toby Alderweireld‘s late own goal, which came via a Hugo Lloris error, handed Liverpool victory.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have also claimed late wins at Anfield thanks to errors from Everton keeper Jordan Pickford and Crystal Palace’s Julian Speroni but Guardiola said he doesn’t believe that luck is on Liverpool’s side in the title race.
“When you see them you say ‘ah s—‘” he told a news conference. “But after five or 10 minutes, it’s nice. Nobody said it would be easy, nobody. We knew it, I knew it. It is a better challenge.
“After a while you say it would be amazing, what we are going to live. Everybody is excited for what we are going to live in the next weeks.”
Meanwhile, Sergio Aguero faces a race to be fit for City’s crucial FA Cup and Champions League clashes after being ruled out of Wednesday’s Premier League clash with Cardiff City.
The striker has not trained for the last two days after being substituted early in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Fulham after feeling some discomfort.
City face an important seven days in their bid to win an unprecedented Quadruple with a chance to move back to the top of the Premier League followed by the FA Cup clash with Brighton (live on ESPN+ at 12.25 p.m. ET) and Champions League first leg away to Tottenham.
“He didn’t train the last two days,” Guardiola said. “Tomorrow he is not able [to play]. Hopefully next Saturday and next Wednesday. We will see his evolution in the next few days.”
Gabriel Jesus could come in to play the crucial fixtures and Guardiola has confidence in the 21-year-old.
Gabriel only scored once Premier League goal in the first four months of the season but has been back in form since the turn of the year and now has 17 goals in all competitions.
“Always it is not easy to play in this club as a striker in the position as Sergio,” Guardiola said.
“He is a respectful guy. When he played, he played well and tomorrow he is going to help us and fight and score goals and create spaces for the other ones.”