Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, faced chants from Liverpool fans at Anfield with a mix of humor and calmness after his team suffered a 2-0 defeat on Sunday. As the home crowd chanted about him being sacked, Guardiola playfully responded by holding up six fingers, a nod to the six Premier League titles he has won with City.

"I Didn’t Expect It at Anfield"

Speaking to Sky Sports, Guardiola admitted his surprise at the reaction:
"Every stadium wants me sacked—it started in Brighton! Maybe they’re right given our results. I didn’t expect it at Anfield. They didn’t do it at 1-0, only after it was 2-0. Maybe they should have sung it earlier. I didn’t expect it from Liverpool fans, but it’s fine. It’s part of the game, and I completely understand."

Guardiola reflected on the historic battles between the two clubs and reiterated his respect for Liverpool and their fans.

"We Can’t Think About Big Objectives Right Now"

Currently sitting fifth in the Premier League table, 11 points behind leaders Liverpool, Guardiola acknowledged that City is not in a position to focus on lofty goals. With four consecutive defeats and a winless streak of seven games, he emphasized the need for a "reset" and the return of key players:
"We need to focus on getting results first. Some players will return, and then maybe we’ll believe again. There’s a lot to fight for, and we’ll try."

Acknowledging Players’ Commitment

Despite the tough run, Guardiola praised his squad's dedication:
"All I can say is thank you because I see the commitment with and without the ball. We’ll start again and try to build a good run. At some point, maybe things will click."

He also highlighted the challenges posed by a lack of preseason preparation and injuries, which have impacted their form:
"We didn’t have a preseason, and then we had injuries. We know this, and we have to survive. We lack rhythm in midfield right now; they’re stronger in duels, so we have to survive with the ball."

Guardiola concluded by congratulating Liverpool on their deserved victory and reaffirming his determination to overcome this difficult period:

"We will try to bounce back and return to our best level. It’s a tough time, but we’ll work through it."