After the 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, Pep Guardiola said that Manchester City had given Liverpool “a life” in the Premier League championship fight.

City took the lead twice against Jurgen Klopp’s squad, once via Kevin de Bruyne and once through Gabriel Jesus, but were pulled back by equalisers from Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane.

With seven games remaining, the two teams are separated at the top of the table by a point, and Guardiola believed a series of missed chances, including one in stoppage time that fell to Riyad Mahrez, had let Liverpool off the hook.

“It was a fantastic game, both teams trying everything to win,” Guardiola told a press conference.

“I felt we let them have a life from here but Liverpool are a joy to watch. I know how good they are and there is no doubt about that but I am so proud of my team.

“I said head up, not down, announce around the world how well we played. We have to win the seven games or it is over. We will play for that, that’s all.”

In his postmatch interview, Klopp compared the game to a boxing fight, despite the fact that neither team was able to land a knockout blow.

They’ll play again in the FA Cup semifinals at Wembley on Saturday, and they may meet again in the Champions League final at the end of May.

“What a game — wild,” Klopp said. “It seemed like a boxing match. You let your arms down for a second and get a big knock, which causes you to tremble somewhat.

“It was a great game and a result which we have to live with and can live with.”

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