Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola insists Manchester United and Newcastle United remain in the title race. Eddie Howe's side have drawn five of their last six top-flight fixtures, but have still not tasted defeat in the Premier League since August.
The Magpies were held to a 1-1 draw at struggling Bournemouth on Saturday, with Kieran Trippier's last-minute goalline clearance preserving a point. Howe's side host Liverpool in their next match, and currently hold a nine-point cushion over the Reds in the race for the top four.
Sky Sports pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville recently disagreed on whether the Magpies would hold on to their current position, with the latter suggesting the current 'blip' has opened the door for Tottenham and Liverpool. Newcastle are 10 points adrift of league leaders Arsenal having played a game more, but Guardiola is adamant they should still be viewed as contenders.
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Asked if he considers Manchester United and Newcastle as title rivals, he told reporters: “Yeah, they are there. There are a lot of points to play for. We don’t know what can happen in the next weeks.
"I always have the feeling, especially now with European competitions back and FA Cup around the corner, the last eight to 10 games are going to decide the title. We have to try to be there in that moment and then have to make the last effort to try to achieve it.”
City face Arsenal on Wednesday night in a rearranged top-of-the-table showdown, with the defending champions currently three points adrift of the Gunners. Guardiola's side have suffered recent defeats at Tottenham and rivals Manchester United, but insists lifting a fifth title in six seasons remains in 'our hands'.
The City boss added: “The biggest motivation is that I don’t want to drop the Premier League just because we are not who we are. If they beat us because they are better then this is sport, I’ll be the first to congratulate them, as I’ve always done. But not because we are not there.
“You want it? OK, fight. Take it. It’s in our hands. We’ll defend this title until the last day. This is what I’d like, to fight to the maximum to try to retain the title. If we don’t, accept it. But we need to give our best. My players have to feel that every day.”
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