Bernardo Silva feared Manchester City's Premier League title bid was over before Liverpool turnaround, Pep Guardiola sees 'good things to fight for'

React to this story

Manchester City prevailed in one of the most dramatic games of the Premier League season at Anfield on Sunday, coming from behind to beat Liverpool 2-1 thanks to goals from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland. The City captain admitted the title race might have been over had they lost, while Pep Guardiola claimed his side remain in contention after the gap to Arsenal was again cut to six points.

Highlights: Man Utd punish 10-man Spurs to claim fourth win in a row

Video credit: TNT Sports

Bernardo Silva said Manchester City's players knew the Premier League title race was "probably over" if they lost to Liverpool on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola's side looked like they could end the day nine points behind leaders Arsenal when Dominik Szoboszlai scored a superb free-kick 74 minutes in to put the hosts 1-0 ahead.

But Bernardo equalised 10 minutes later, before Erling Haaland netted from the spot in added time after Alisson fouled Matheus Nunes in the box.

Transfers

Salah set for Trabzonspor as club confirm negotiations and arrival in Turkey

17 hours ago

City were controversially denied a third in the dying seconds, but victory was secured to cut the gap to Arsenal back to six points.

"I feel the whole team knew before the game if we lost it then the title race was probably over," Bernardo told Sky Sports.

"We felt like we needed to win. The hope is there, and we are going to fight until the end. We need to keep doing our job that we haven't lately."

It was just the second win in 11 visits to Anfield in all competitions under Guardiola, and Bernardo emphasised the significance of victory on Merseyside.

"For the distance that we have to Arsenal, coming here it is the toughest place in the Premier League by far, but we needed to go for another goal," the Portuguese midfielder said. "When I scored, I was happy, but we needed another and Erling got it.

"Very happy, but these points count as much as any in any other game. It has been frustrating the beginning of the year because we have not done our job properly. We could be closer to Arsenal."

Guardiola insists City have 'good things to fight for'

City remain outsiders in the title race, but Guardiola was optimistic after watching his side seal a rare win at Anfield.

"Despite what has happened today, we have many good things to fight for," he told Sky Sports. "We are six points behind. OK, it is a big gap, but many things can happen."

The City boss acknowledged his side's struggles in the second half, pointing to the need for consistency and the return of injured players.

"It has happened many times, we are not consistent over 90 minutes, but we strive to grow," Guardiola said.

"We have been in that position many times because maybe we still are not completely ready. Maybe in one month we will be ready [when injured players return]."

On the contest as a whole, Guardiola added: "I am really proud we won. The first half was incredible.

"Liverpool had the momentum [in the second half], and after Szoboszlai's free-kick, a carbon copy of the one against Arsenal, what a strike. What a player.

"At the end, belief from our captain; his character, personality, not giving up. In the end, we came back.

"We played well first half, but we didn't produce what we should have. We had to be a little bit more composed. Defensively, we were so brilliant; the pace of [Hugo] Ekitike, Mo [Salah] and [Cody] Gakpo. The second half we expected that."

City return to Premier League action against Fulham on Wednesday night - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Watch the 2025/26 Premier League season on TNT Sports and discovery+

Transfers