Gabriel Jesus, Kevin de Bruyne and Manchester City stars tune up for epic clash with champions Liverpool - in pictures

City boss Pep Guardiola believes there will be many title contenders

Kevin de Bruyne during a training session ahead of Manchester City's clash with champions Liverpool on Sunday. Getty

Manchester City's Kyle Walker and Oleksandr Zinchenko during a training session ahead of their clash with champions Liverpool on Sunday. Getty

Nathan Ake during a training session ahead of Manchester City's clash with champions Liverpool on Sunday. Getty

Bernardo Silva during a training session ahead of Manchester City's clash with champions Liverpool on Sunday. Getty

Gabriel Jesus during a training session ahead of Manchester City's clash with champions Liverpool on Sunday. Getty

Ferran Torres during a training session ahead of Manchester City's clash with champions Liverpool on Sunday. Getty

Ruben Dias during a training session ahead of Manchester City's clash with champions Liverpool on Sunday. Getty

Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, during a training session ahead of City's clash with champions Liverpool on Sunday. Getty

Manchester City's clash with Liverpool on Sunday sees the two Premier League title favourites go head-to-head but Pep Guardiola believes there will be many more contenders this season.

City and Liverpool went toe-to-toe in an unprecedented battle in 2018-19 before City claimed the title with 98 points to Liverpool's 97, but Liverpool walked away with it last season.

This campaign has already proven to be unpredictable with leaders Liverpool suffering a 7-2 defeat by Aston Villa and City, in 10th place, winning only one of their opening six.

As Kevin de Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus, Nathan Ake and the other City stars tuned up for the mouth-watering fixture, Guardiola said the landscape had changed in the Premier League.

"(Liverpool) are the biggest favourite but with the pandemic the situation is a bit different," he said.

"I see other teams strong, Leicester maintained the level from most of last season, Arsenal made a big step forward to be contenders and Tottenham, (Jose) Mourinho has the team what he wants.

"Chelsea in the beginning is so stable now and has a huge squad for rotating top players. (Manchester) United in this moment is not in terms of results but we saw the quality they had last season, we suffered a lot in results and up front they are incredibly fast and clinical.

"I think this season will be a lot of teams being there. The last five to 10 games will be important to fight for the title."

City will be without injured striker Sergio Aguero but Jesus is fit for Sunday's clash, which Guardiola says is important but far from decisive even if defeat would leave his side eight points behind Jurgen Klopp's team.

"It is an important game but like presidential elections in the USA all the votes must be counted," the Catalan said. "A lot of points to play for.

"It's always nice to play against the strongest teams and last year they were stronger. They are an exceptional team, they have had the same manager for a long time and it is nice to face him all the time to improve our level."