Pep Guardiola has declared Liverpool as "winners" this season and dismissed criticism of their failed Premier League title challenge.
A new-look Reds squad had competed strongly with both City and Arsenal for the championship and were top at the beginning of last month
A run of form that has seen them take just nine points from their last seven games to finish third.
Liverpool had won the League Cup in February and were competing on four fronts until they were eliminated at the quarter-final stage of both the FA Cup and Europa League
Guardiola, whose side have been involved in four title battles with the Reds over the past six years, has pointed to the reason why Jurgen Klopp's side were unable to maintain their momentum
Guardiola
“I saw Liverpool in the last weeks could not fight with Arsenal, but do you know the way they lose the chance to go and fight to the end?"
“I saw the game against Crystal Palace second half, the game against (Manchester) United - the chances they missed looked unbelievable, you could not believe it.
“Give me all the chances Liverpool missed, but missed without a keeper, nothing, and they missed it. And for that reason they are not fighting to the end.
They are losers? No. They are failures? No. They are incredible, the same team that fights against us these many, many years.
“In the end, tell me how these incredible attacking players Liverpool has, and they don’t score a goal? For that reason, they didn’t win. It can happen.
“But what’s important with Liverpool is that they are winners because in the end they fought for four titles, being there.
“Playing against Atalanta - did you see yesterday (Sunday) Atalanta-Roma (Atalanta won 2-1 to become favourites for Champions League qualification)?
“The performance they have done, it’s unbelievable, they can beat you."
Comments