Pep Guardiola provides response when asked if Liverpool are the best team in the world right now

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was recently asked if Liverpool is currently the best team in the world. The English side have been impressive this season and recently coasted past European Champions Real Madrid in their last game at Anfield.

The Merseyside club have been impressive this season, failing to win only twice in 19 games under Arne Slot. Their performances have seen some label them the best team on the planet.

When Guardiola was asked if he thought so too in a recent press conference, he said via the Liverpool Echo:

"We have always had respect, like in the past fighting the biggest battles ever against Liverpool, always a big consideration for this football club. Nothing changes, they have lost one game in all competitions. That means they are so stable and that is really good because we will learn from that."

Pep Guardiola concluded, saying:

"Always (against Liverpool) it has been the toughest. But now in the last years have been Arsenal, but over the years Liverpool has been the toughest one, definitely. Are Liverpool the best team in the world now? I don't know. They are one of the best for the results, Arne is doing an incredible job. But I don't know (if they are the world's best right now). Years ago, when people say City are the best, I don't pay attention for one second."

Pep Guardiola has faced the English side 22 times in his career, winning seven and drawing as many, while losing eight. He will face them again with Manchester City this weekend at Anfield, and both sides have had very different runs of form over their last five games.

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"I ask for this challenge, I ask for this opportunity to do it" -Pep Guardiola bullish ahead of Liverpool clash

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is bullish about his chances of turning things around at the club amid their lousy form. The Catalan tactician has overseen a six-game winless run in charge of the English side.

Guardiola has seen the club to four consecutive Premier League titles, but his side's poor run of form has seen them look unlikely to make it five seasons on the bounce. However, the manager is keen to turn the situation around, saying via the Liverpool Echo:

"I ask for this challenge, I ask for this opportunity to do it. Because I feel it. I know what I want to do, what we have to do, knowing in the moment our consistency we had, we don't have it right now."

Guardiola concluded, adding:

"Which team are consistent in 10 years, tell me one? It doesn't exist. Not even in the NBA, tennis, golf. In almost a decade, the consistency, we don't find it. It's not nice to live, of course it is not nice, but what do you expect? Everything is red carpet and nice and easy? It proves how we are sportsmen, competitors, it is easy when you win 10 or 12 in a row, everyone is fit and in their prime and 26, 27 or 28 and everything is running well. That is easy."

Despite their poor form, Pep Guardiola's side still sits in second place in the Premier League table but is eight points behind their next opponent, Arne Slot's Reds. When he faces them this weekend, the Spaniard will be keen to avoid widening the gap between his side and the Merseyside club.