Pep Guardiola tells Manchester City players that one false move could cost them title as Liverpool hit form

Pep Guardiola has warned his Manchester City players ahead of Wednesday’s derby that one false move will cost them the Premier League title with Liverpool hitting form “at the perfect moment”.

But the City manager - who will be without midfielder Kevin De Bruyne for the trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United - is adamant that he will remain fully in “love” with his team regardless of what happens.

“Liverpool have a long squad, their form arrives at the perfect moment,” Guardiola said. “I’m happy. One inch, that is all it is, and we are out.

"But, I’m sorry, I’m not going to judge my team for that inch. You can but I cannot because I see every day what they have in the last two seasons.

“My team doesn’t need to show me character but in two seasons they have shown me character every three days. I love my team.”

Despite crashing out of the Champions League to Tottenham last Wednesday, Guardiola described that night - when they won 4-3 but exited 4-4 on away goals - and Saturday’s tense 1-0 win over Spurs as his best experiences as City manager.

“The best two nights I have lived since I was Manchester City manager are last Wednesday and [Saturday] and I appreciate it a lot because without their effort it would have been more difficult to win,” he said.

City are expected to discover the full extent of De Bruyne’s latest injury on Monday after more tests.

The Belgium midfielder was substituted after just 38 minutes against Tottenham with a suspected hamstring problem although there was also some concern he may have done some damage to his left knee.