Jurgen Klopp says writing Manchester City off in the Premier League title race \u201cwould be the biggest joke in the history of football\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Reds boss was speaking after City slipped to a third defeat of the season against Aston Villa, who now sit third in the table after an incredible run of form under Unai Emery, and the champions are now without a win in their last four Premier League games.<\/p>\n Leon Bailey\u2019s second half goal condemned City to defeat \u2013 the strike also provided Villa with a record 14th consecutive home Premier League win \u2013 and manager Pep Guardiola admitted to\u00a0Amazon Prime<\/em>\u00a0after the game that his team are \u201cstruggling a bit\u201d.<\/p>\n But the Spaniard has found an ally in Klopp, who is well versed to going head-to-head with City in the race for\u00a0Premier League\u00a0glory. The German said after watching his side beat Sheffield United 2-0 at Bramall Lane that writing City off would be a ridiculous thing to do, while he also cited the depth of quality teams now in the top flight.<\/p>\n \u201cIf somebody would write\u00a0City\u00a0off that would be the biggest joke in the history of football,\u201d Klopp told his post-match press conference.<\/p>\n \u201cArsenal are fighting and had a similar experience we had [late win vs Fulham]. It feels really good but anyway you have to start the next game from 0-0. Aston Villa is incredible. United is there, don\u2019t play yet maybe exactly the football whoever wants \u2013 the media or whatever \u2013 but they have points like crazy. Chelsea, I\u2019m not sure if they\u2019re coming.<\/p>\n It\u2019s four games without a win for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City \/ Michael Regan\/GettyImages<\/p>\n \u201cThe league is incredibly strong, you need to be lucky to get through difficult moments, with injuries especially. So I have no clue [who will win the title]. Probably [there are more challengers]. It was the last years, always two. I\u2019m not interested in that, so long as we\u2019re around there. But it\u2019s so difficult and intense. Ask me again in April.\u201d<\/p>\n Guardiola\u00a0admitted after the defeat that City had been second best at Villa Park in all aspects of the game, and took responsibility for getting things back on track for last season\u2019s treble winners.<\/p>\n \u201cThe better team won,\u201d he said. \u201cAston Villa\u00a0was better than us. They are well organised, fast and [have] physical players and team and they are able to control many aspects.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is the reason why they are up there, playing good football and we could not do it. It\u2019s my duty, my job to find the way to come back.\u201d<\/p>\n
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