MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, March 19, 2017: Liverpool's Manager J¸rgen Klopp and Manchester City's Manager Manager Pep Guardiola after the FA Premier League match at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Pic by Gavin Trafford/Propaganda)

“That’s the standard” – Pep Guardiola praises Liverpool again with Usain Bolt comparison

Pep Guardiola felt his Manchester City side raised the bar last season but has thanked title rivals Liverpool for helping them maintain standards.

City won the Premier League with a record 100 points last season and by a biggest ever margin of 19 points.

This term they have been involved in a much tighter battle for the crown with Liverpool and it may take close to another century of points to see the Merseysiders off.

City boss Guardiola, whose side will reach 98 points if they win their remaining three games, feels the two clubs have pushed each other on.

He said: “People knew that before, with points, it was close to 90. Now you have to be close to 100, that was the standard last season.

“We helped Liverpool to achieve that and Liverpool helped us to maintain this level. Thanks to Liverpool we are competing.

“Liverpool realise to win the Premier League right now you have to make a lot of points. That’s what we have communicated to each other really well.

“You know when Usain Bolt makes a 100-metre race that’s the standard and the other people have to achieve it. For grand slams Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods—that is the standard, it’s the same.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, October 7, 2018: Liverpool's Dejan Lovren (L) and Manchester City's Sergio Aguero during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

“One hundred points in a season—if you want to compete you have to do that.”

Guardiola expects other rival sides to improve next season and admits he would be happy if City were just able to maintain the lofty standards they have currently reached.

He said: “Next season Chelsea are getting better, [Manchester] United are, Tottenham are.

“I’d sign right now to do what we have done again in the Premier League last season and this season. I don’t expect more than that.”