Pep Guardiola makes Liverpool point amid pointed 'arrogant' Man City claim

Liverpool have stormed ahead this season leaving rivals Manchester City to fight for Champions League qualification

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes his side are still 'miles away' from the level of Liverpool. The Etihad club moved a step closer to securing their place in next season's Champions League when they beat Everton on Saturday afternoon.

Second-half goals from Nico O'Reilly and Mateo Kovacic secured Guardiola's side a 2-0 victory. However, their reign as current Premier League champions could come to and end as early as this afternoon.

Should Arsenal be beaten by Ipswich Town at Portman Road, and Liverpool beat Leicester City at the King Power then Arne Slot's side will be confirmed as champions. And Guardiola believes that his side still have some way to go before catching up with the Reds and Gunners.

"I would say big," he told BBC Sport when reflecting on the game. "We have five, six games left and with the moment they had after [winning against] Nottingham Forest away, [and given that] Liverpool and Arsenal could not win here, it is massively important.

"I've tried to convince the players that qualifying for the Champions League is a huge achievement in this country and in this league. Being in the Champions League is enough, thinking that is not enough for us would be arrogant."

Before he continued: "If you win you have character, if you don't win you don't have character - this is the motto.

"What these players have done for one decade, I am so grateful for, whatever has happened - this season more than ever, in the toughest period for many reasons especially injuries.

"We were more or less stable, kept going and going for the next time. We are miles away from Liverpool and Arsenal but tonight we sleep fourth.

"It is in our hands but we have a final on Tuesday, three games at home, two away and hopefully we can achieve this big success to qualify for the Champions League."