With the gap in the Premier League table narrowing to just three points, Guardiola is preparing for another huge title battle
The last time City played a heavy-hitting clash against Liverpool in the Premier League table, they had a relaxing time visiting Everton.
Goodison Park essentially shrugged its shoulders in February 2019, when the team won a 2-0 victory, knowing they weren't helping their nemesis and their hope of ending 30 years was safe waiting for the title.
The second win in a 14-game winning streak was as easy as Manchester City's clash with Liverpool until the final day of the season, when they won the league title by one point.
Win after win, test after trial, the two best teams in the country kept responding without a single misstep until they ran out of games.
Here we go again.
On Saturday, City's mistake at home against Tottenham, coupled with Liverpool's midweek victory over Z United, has narrowed the point gap to just three points, once again without breathing space.
This time, City didn't even have a chance to face the submissive Everton starter, with new boss Frank Lampard desperately needing points to avoid the threat of being dragged into relegation.
Guardiola and most of his players have been here before, but just because they were successful last time doesn't mean anything will be taken for granted.
"We all know what we have to do," the city boss said ahead of Saturday's clashes over tea time. "I've talked to the players a lot of times: focus on our job. If being champions is enough, that's fine, if not so congratulations to Liverpool. ”
The Manchester City manager ostensibly remained calm about the situation in his pre-match press conference, even if the reality of winning all or most of the remaining 12 games would be another daunting task.
But its challenges — and trying to win their first Champions League title — mean his team is barely in danger of losing its attention.
Guardiola added: "As I get older, I am learning to enjoy my career – more supportive than ever. "I accept failure in a more natural way."
"I don't like it because I didn't sleep well after losing, but I accept that other people can beat you – they can be better than you. You have to improve, and there's room for better that we still haven't done.
"I love it. I wasn't so dramatic, like: 'We're going to lose the Premier League'. What is the problem? The problem is your performance and your performance as a team, knowing that we want to win it – we want to do it. ”
The similarities between teams that fought a spectacular title battle three seasons ago are palpable.
Liverpool can still be unstoppable under dynamic attacking threats from full-back to striker – and now diogo Jota and Luis Diaz. Meanwhile, City maintained their control and dominance, waiting for the opportunity to create a killer moment.
The differences are small, however, they are all the same.
On the defensive end, Jürgen Klopp's team is not as despicable as they used to be, conceding 33% more goals than they conceded three years ago.
At the other end, City may be short and lack a striker, especially one of Sergio Aguero's qualities.
The Argentine scored the winning goal twice in a 1-0 win in their title battle, most notably the tense away win over Burnley when his winning ball crossed the finish line at less than an inch away.
It was the smallest profit, so the title battle was finally over on the last day of the campaign.
Many expect to face the same challenge again, but the way the gap has narrowed so quickly is still surprising. But when Guardiola described Liverpool as "the most miserable man", it was because he knew they would not give up on the challenge.
Now, with the gap narrowing to 3 points and a huge clash at Etihad Stadium in April, they will be racing all the way to the finish line.
From Guardiola's perspective, the way to keep their opponents in second place is simple.
"I know what we have to do to beat Liverpool, we have to win a lot of games," he said. "I don't just know now. I knew when we were 11 or 12 points ahead and they had two games to go. I know, I feel it. I know the opponent and what to expect. ”
From returning to Merseyside on Saturday until Gerrard's Aston Villa visit on the final day of the season, no one at City had expected anything but a fight to the end.