'Top of the league' - Pep Guardiola defiant on Man City after Jose Mourinho comparison

Pep Guardiola said that this Manchester City team would be top of the league without their injury crisis.

The Blues were top of the Premier League table by a point after nine games and unbeaten in all competitions after a start that exceeded their manager's expectations. However, an injury crisis has torpedoed their campaign with four straight league defeats meaning they will kick off at home to Nottingham Forest on Wednesday in fifth place.

City's sharp decline has raised questions not just about the team's chances of more silverware this season but whether the squad and club are reaching the end of their golden era of dominant success. Guardiola held six fingers in the air in Anfield when he was serenaded with chants that he was getting sacked in the morning to remind everyone of the Premier League titles City have won under his watch - an action that saw some question whether he was losing his cool as it was compared to Jose Mourinho making a similar gesture towards the end of his time at United.

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"I was never cool," Guardiola said. "I was only cool because we won. When you don't win it's completely the opposite.

"I hope [it's] not [the beginning of the end] in my case. Maybe we are similar like Jose, but he won three and I won six! We are together in those situations.

"It was just to make our fans feel that what we have done is extraordinary. I want to prove that we are an incredible football club. Sooner or later it's going to be the end but I will try to extend as much as possible for the best of my club."

Doubts over the squad that were bubbling away among the fanbase after the summer transfer window are now seen as major problems for City, with questions over whether several of their star-studded players are still capable of playing at the highest level. Fans are looking for some action in the January transfer window, and then a bigger rebuild from the summer.

Guardiola, however, remains adamant that injuries have wrecked the campaign. He believes that the squad would be near the level of previous years if everyone was available and that the missing goal contributions would see City top of the table.

"I’m desperate for five goals and assists from [Phil] Foden after last season," he said. "Five for Kevin [De Bruyne], goals and assists from Jeremy [Doku], goals and assists from Jack [Grealish], from Savinho or [Ilkay] Gundo[gan].

"Five goals and assists from these. Not 20, 30 or 40. Just five goals and assists from these players and we’d be top of the league.

"Why hasn’t it happened? They were not here. They were injured. They weren’t ready. This is the bigger problem I have."