Yahoo News Liverpool will receive Manchester City guard of honour after Premier League title win, says Pep Guardiola
Premier League winners Liverpool will be given a guard of honour by deposed champions Manchester City when the two sides clash on Thursday, Pep Guardiola has confirmed.
The Reds finally sealed their first domestic league title for 30 years on Thursday evening after Wednesday's thumping 4-0 home victory over Crystal Palace on Merseyside was followed 24 hours later by a 2-1 loss for second-placed City away at Chelsea.
That combination of results means that Liverpool cannot now be mathematically caught at the Premier League summit this season, with Jurgen Klopp's side 23 points ahead of their closest rivals with only seven matches left to play in 2019-20.
It also removed the prospect of the reigning world and European champions potentially ending their three-decade wait for the title at the home of last season's winners, with City set to host Liverpool on July 2 in a contest that will be played at Etihad Stadium after initial suggestions of a potential move to a neutral venue.
And Guardiola insists that the newly-confirmed champions are fully deserving of the guard of honour they will receive when the two teams go head to head.
"Of course we are going to do it," said Guardiola of the tribute.
"We are going to do the guard of honour, of course. Always we receive Liverpool when they come to our house in an incredible way.
"They cannot complain and, of course, we are going to do it because they deserve it."
On his own team's shortcomings as they failed to defend their title, Guardiola added: "A team that wins eight titles (trophies) in the last three years have passion, in every single game, in every competition, everywhere. No one in this country can say that.
"It is so difficult to do what we have done in the most difficult league in the world but you cannot win all the time.
"There was one team that was exceptional and, when one team is exceptional, I say learn from them and congratulate them. It is simple.
"This team's passion and desire, it is going and going and going again."
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