Liverpool's front three are almost unstoppable – Pep Guardiola

Posted Tuesday, April 03, 2018 by squawka.com

Pep Guardiola has hailed the attacking exploits of Liverpool's front three as "almost unstoppable" with his Manchester City side preparing for their Champions League quarter-final clash on Wednesday.

Liverpool are the only club who have so far beaten the Citizens in the Premier League, coming on January 14 when Jurgen Klopp's side stuck four past the runaway league leaders.

On the scoresheet that day were the aforementioned front three of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

Salah has taken the Premier League by storm this season since returning to England, scoring 37 goals in all competitions, while Mane and Firmino have netted 38 goals between themselves.

"It's not just Salah," Guardiola told BBC Sport.

"Mane and Firmino, all three, they are almost unstoppable. They're fantastic."

When quizzed about his side's loss to Liverpool, Guardiola said: "We lost a bit of control, we were involved in the environment of Anfield.

"The way Liverpool play is so complicated for us. We know that. They are so quick, they are so good and it is tough.

"But it is the quarter-finals of the Champions League so we cannot expect, at that level, that something is going to be easy."

Reason to be fearful for Guardiola

Liverpool are the only club who rival Manchester City this season for the most goals scored, netting 75 – with Salah helping himself to 29 – while the league leaders have scored 88.

But it is not just domestically that Liverpool have been prolific, as they boast a formidable goalscoring record in Europe as well, scoring the second most of any club in during group stages of the Champions League.

Between themselves, Liverpool's lethal front three have netted 19 times in the competition, registered five assists and created a commendable 31 chances.

If City are to have any chance of progressing through to the semi-finals over the two legs, then they will have to defend resolutely to contain the Reds' attacking threat.