Pep Guardiola sends Champions League warning to Manchester City players following Liverpool defeat

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has warned his players that they cannot afford to perform in parts like they did against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, if they want Champions League success this season.

A single strike from Mohamed Salah was the difference between the two sides.

But the game was less than straight forward for the hosts, despite Jurgen Klopp's side picking up all three points upon the final whistle at Anfield.

A Phil Foden goal midway through the second-half had convinced Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City players that they had taken the lead in the game.

However, upon referring to the touchline VAR monitor, Anthony Taylor chalked off the goal.

That was due to an Erling Haaland foul in the build-up on Liverpool midfielder Fabinho.

While that was of course a major talking point in the game, and one that frustrated many in the Manchester City camp, manager Pep Guardiola was keen to focus on the performance of his side during post-match interviews.

Speaking to broadcasters in the aftermath to the defeat on Merseyside on Sunday afternoon, Pep Guardiola insisted, "We did everything, we played really well and created chances.

"Most of the time we were really good, but we made a mistake.

"They were so clinical and so good."

Sending a warning to his Manchester City players about their hopes in the Champions League this season, Guardiola continued, "We have to make a perfect game (against Liverpool) and we didn't, we made a mistake.

"Hopefully in the future we can learn but teams like this, (competing) in the Champions League, it is so tight and they punish you."

Manchester City can look forward to the knock-out stages of Europe's premier club competition.

Pep Guardiola and his players booked their place in the last-16 of the tournament last week, albeit via results elsewhere in their group.

Following a disappointing 0-0 draw against Danish giants FC Copenhagen, City were left awaiting the result of Borussia Dortmund's clash with Sevilla.

Thankfully for the Premier League side, that game resulted in a 1-1 draw, meaning Manchester City qualify for the knock-out stages of the Champions League with two games to spare.

City take on Borussia Dortmund in Germany a week on Tuesday, before facing Sevilla at the Etihad Stadium on the final matchday of the group stage in November.