Ilkay Gundogan has responded to a question about Manchester City fearing Liverpool in the Premier League title race by claiming his side will be able to handle the pressure due to past experience.
Despite holding a commanding lead at the turn of the year, Pep Guardiola’s side have seen their lead at the top of the table cut to six points.
Liverpool also have a game in hand on City, and are set to face the reigning Premier League champions at the Etihad next month.
The Reds, who claimed the Carabao Cup at the weekend, are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League matches, winning six of them.
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While City returned to winning ways themselves at the weekend after edging past Everton 1-0 at Goodison Park following a 3-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur the week before.
Both clubs have previously been embroiled in a title battle, with City claiming the crown on the final day of the 2018/19 season.
Guardiola’s side claimed the title by a point, finishing on 97 points for the season, despite Liverpool losing just once during the whole campaign.
And Gundogan believes because of that experience a couple of years ago, his side do not fear the Reds in this season’s battle to be crowned Premier League champions.
“What do you mean by fear?” he told German publication SportBILD via Sport Witness when asked if there was City fear around the title race.
“For the league, it’s extremely exciting and good. The good thing for us is that it’s not an unfamiliar situation.
“It’s like two years ago, so we should be able to handle the pressure Liverpool are trying to build. We know that we have a very strong team, extremely good players.
“And that we are still playing against them at home. Everything is open: It will be a hot dance. But that’s what we play football for!”
