Everything Pep Guardiola said on Liverpool including 'unstoppable' admission - 'call me delusional'

Liverpool moved 11 points clear of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City with goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah at Anfield. With more than a third of the campaign gone, Arne Slot is in an incredible position.

Guardiola was spotted putting six fingers up to the crowd during and then after the game, gently hitting back at the chants from the crowd for him to be "sacked". Here's a round-up of what he had to say about the game while speaking live on Sky Sports and then to the BBC.

On Liverpool: "The best team won, the first 10-15 minutes was almost unstoppable. It was so difficult."

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On poor recent performances: "They [players] help me. Three-to-four months ago we won Premier League, FA Cup semi-final and Champions League quarter-final. It wasn't a century ago, it was close. The situation from the beginning [of this season] was difficult for many reasons.

"I know the players want to do it for the club and me — there's no doubt about that. You have to turn it around and win games. The target is to try win the next game and go step-by-step."

On the home fans singing for him to be fired: "They want to sack me. I wish they were more kind. Why didn't they do it at 0-1? Why didn't they do it last season when we won the Premier League? Why do they want to sack me now?

"I didn't expect that from Anfield, for other clubs like Brighton I can understand it. But for Anfield I didn't expect this, maybe it is the respect we have. They know we have won six Premier Leagues."

On trying to turn results around: "I congratulate Liverpool, they deserve the victory. The first 15-20 minutes they were unstoppable, we were lucky and they deserved the goal. Then we took the game in the circumstances that we have. They are stronger than us and we needed a game of more control. I thank a lot of my players, like Bernardo and Manuel Akanji, for playing positions that we're not used to.

"The second half is who we are. They pushed a lot and the second half and the last 20 minutes of the first half was good, without too much threat. They are strong in both boxes like we aren't at the moment. We will reset and start the seaosn from there. My players wanted it but it is not easy because they are aggressive and faster. We will continue with that and restart from here.

"The results will help us to see more. I have to see the players come back and be better and better physically. It is difficult in the middle of the season because we cannot change. It is another one and we cannot expect more than this.

"You have to understand what we have done. The players want it, they suffer it and they want to do it. It is normal. We're not used to this for many reasons, but many, many things happen. Teams are good and we can't handle it right now. I have to find a solution to be solid, in behind particularly.

"What can I say? These players have given me the chance to live maybe the best years of my life. All I can do is be here to try and find a solution. In the right moment the club will take a decision about what is needed to allow this club to still be there."

On the Premier League title picture: "I said before this game that we weren't in a position to think about targets but the season is long. We have to think about making results and then some players will come back and then we'll be better and we'll believe maybe. There are many things to fight for and we're going to try."

On why his team struggled to compete: "We didn't have a pre-season and then injuries, but we know that and we have to survive with that. We competed but didn't create many chances.

"We don't have the pace in the middle right now and they are stronger in the duels and you have to survive with the ball. We're not good in transitions over 30-40 meters compared to them. We had to adapt and we did it. I cannot forget which players I have.

"I am here sitting as a manager and defending what we have done in the past thanks to them and more than ever I want to be with them and hug them. We have to change results and in the right time we will take the decision.

"All the stadiums want to sack me, it started at Brighton! Maybe they are right with the results we've been having. I didn't expect that at Anfield. They didn't do it at 1-0, but at 2-0. Maybe they should have sung it in the past.

"I didn't expect it from the people from Liverpool but it's fine, it's part of the game, and I understand completely. We've had incredible battles together. I have a respect for them."

In his press conference, Guardiola said (via The Guardian): "Call me delusional but I have the feeling that from here we will start to build back to winning games and confidence. Our target cannot be talking about titles in November or December.

"We didn’t do that when we were top of the league. But at the same time we are still in December, not the end of the season, so many things can still happen."