Ilkay Gundogan has admitted Manchester City are feeling the pressure prior to their meeting with Liverpool at the Etihad stadium.
With Liverpool leading the Premier League table by 7 points this would be the perfect chance for the defending champions to cut the gap. It has been a rough few weeks for the Sky Blues but Guardiola knows the importance of this game and will fancy his chances.
City’s recent record against the Reds clearly shows the difference between the two and they really need to ramp up the intensity in a bid to catch Liverpool in the title race.
Gundogan insists they must win this game to keep the pressure on the table toppers. “Of course, the pressure is great for us.
“I think it’s a game on an absolute top level. It’s going to be tight, as you’ve seen in the first leg of the 0-0 draw.
“We have a chance to reduce [the gap] to four points now, and then I think the season is long enough to make up for that in the rest of the games.
“It is true that in the past we often did not look so good. Now we have the chance to make up for something. Due to the situation in the table, it’s a special game anyway, which we naturally want to win at home.
“Regardless of how these games run out, in my view, the Premier League the best league in the world. That’s why the best players want to play here, so the best coaches come here.
“The level is increasing year by year. There are not only us and Liverpool, but also some other teams that are able to win the title.”
