Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says Liverpool will always be their main rivals for the Premier League title despite their start to the campaign.
The Reds currently sit 14 points behind the defending champions after only picking up two wins from their opening eight games this season.
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The Citizens and Liverpool will meet at Anfield on Sunday evening, with Guardiola insisting that their opponents are still rivals for the big prize.
"They always have been, always is and always will be – yes," Guardiola said, as per Daily Mail.
"I know the quality they have. They know the quality we have. If it was 10 games left then I'd say Liverpool can't catch the top of the league but the situation we are in, with the World Cup…
"The table never plays in a game. The game will be dictated by what happens on the pitch, not that we are ahead."
Despite the Reds' shaky form this season, Guardiola is expecting a tough encounter at Anfield on Sunday evening.
"In the last two games we were a little bit soft,' he said.
"You have to win duels. When they push you, you have to push. The semi-final of the FA Cup it was tough to recover from the Champions League (quarter-final against Atletico Madrid).
"You have to behave at a top, top level. Being active in the second balls and many things. In Anfield, we are not losing without personality. I had the feeling that we behave really well in Anfield.
"The opinion I have of Liverpool is that nothing changes with the situation in the table. Liverpool were fighting for four unprecedented titles.
"They couldn't achieve something because of just two little details. This is the same team. We will have bad moments. It's the nature of the competition."
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