Pep Guardiola: Liverpool Premier League Title Favourites After Man City Vs Arsenal Draw

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola called Liverpool the favourites to win the Premier League after his side were held to a goalless home draw by title rivals Arsenal. (More Football News)

After Liverpool came from behind to beat Brighton 2-1 earlier in the day, Jurgen Klopp바카라�s side top the table by two points from the Gunners with City in third, three points from the summit.

Guardiola바카라�s three-time reigning champions have made a habit of putting together long winning runs late in the season to overhaul rivals in the race to finish top, but the Catalan conceded this year바카라�s title race was not in their hands.

바카라�Always who is first is favourite,바카라� Guardiola said when asked if Liverpool were 바카라�clear favourites바카라� to win the league.

바카라�The second favourite is Arsenal and we are third바카라�It바카라�s not in our hands. All we can do is think of Aston Villa (at home on Wednesday). Always when we were top of the league, we were favourites. It was in our hands. Now it바카라�s not. It바카라�s simple.바카라�

City and Arsenal both fought hard at the Etihad but produced a match of few chances that will not live long in the memory, with Guardiola바카라�s men failing to score at home for the first time in 58 matches across all competitions.

Last April Arsenal lost 4-1 at the Etihad in the midst of a run which proved pivotal as City overhauled Mikel Arteta바카라�s side on their way to the treble.

There was no repeat as Arsenal바카라�s eight-game losing streak at the Etihad came to an end, and this felt like a more important result for the Gunners.

바카라�I think the context and the way we arrived here 11 months ago was different, but the difficulty remains the same,바카라� Arsenal boss Arteta said.

바카라�They are the best team in the world, in my opinion, by far. They have the best manager in the world by far. To catch up and try to better than them is the challenge ahead of us바카라�

바카라�I don바카라�t know (if the draw is good for the title race). You want to win the game. You prepare to win it. If you cannot win it, make sure you draw it. We did that.

바카라�Eleven months ago we were here and the story was very different. You have to make steps as a team and today we바카라�ve done that. We still have many more to come바카라�

바카라�(It says) that we are improving and competing better and understand how you have to play these games but there is another step to make to win the championship. You have to come here and win.바카라�

Arsenal kept their structure, defending deep and denying City players any space in and around the box.

Asked how to break down such a low block, Guardiola joked: 바카라�Kill someone바카라�.

바카라�I recognise my team, the proposals and how we pressed high,바카라� he said. 바카라�We바카라�ve played against a low block sometimes and Arsenal are exceptional. Well managed and the players are really good.

바카라�You have to knock on the door of another manager and see if he can do it. As a team we바카라�re still there. We could have more in some aspects but I바카라�m satisfied. I told the team don바카라�t be sad. You give credit to Arsenal for the things they do.바카라�