Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola previews Chelsea test and discusses Arsenal title race battle

Pep Guardiola has called for his Manchester City squad to step up in a testing run of fixtures in their bid to catch Arsenal in the title race.

The Premier League champions lost further ground in their bid to claim a third successive league title as Demarai Gray cancelled out Erling Haaland’s first-half opener to help Everton claim a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium on New Year’s Day.

Arsenal were held to a goalless draw by third-placed Newcastle on Tuesday, which gives Pep Guardiola’s men the chance to reduce the gap to the top of the table to five points with a win at Stamford Bridge on Thursday evening.

With just one win in their last three league outings, Manchester City twice face Chelsea ahead of games against Southampton, Manchester United and Tottenham present themselves in the next fortnight.

Previewing a midweek league trip to south-west London, Guardiola was asked about his thoughts on City’s upcoming clash and Chelsea’s recent form.

“(It will be a) tough game and Chelsea are a tough side. We are looking forward to the next couple of weeks,” the 51-year-old said.

“We have to play well and take the points to close the gap, if Arsenal continue as they are, they will win (the Premier League).”

Chelsea, who saw Graham Potter replace Thomas Tuchel as manager in September 2022, has recorded two draws, five losses and a draw in their last eight outings across all competitions, including a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup third-round two months ago.

Guardiola added: “It is the Premier League, everyone is tough. That’s why the predictions at the start of the season, always my answer is, ‘I don’t know’.

“Nobody knows. We will see what happens, after (the Qatar) World Cup, many things are going to happen.”

City host Chelsea in the FA Cup third-round on Sunday before a Carabao Cup quarter-final trip to Southampton, followed by league meetings with Manchester United, Tottenham and Wolves before the end of the month.

The Catalan has ruled Ruben Dias out for the first of back-to-back games against Chelsea as the Portuguese recovers from a hamstring issue, whereas a decision on Aymeric Laporte‘s availability will be taken ahead of Thursday’s game following a lower back issue.