Pep Guardiola warns 'everything can happen' as Manchester City keep Premier League title destiny in own hands

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City have "four finals" to go in the Premier League as they kept their hopes of a fourth successive title in their own hands by beating Nottingham Forest.

Goals from Josko Gvardiol and Erling Haaland secured the visitors a 2-0 victory at the City Ground.

Victory closed the gap on table-toppers Arsenal to just one point, after the Gunners beat Spurs 3-2 in the north London derby earlier on Sunday.

The Citizens have a game in hand on Mikel Arteta's side though and will seal top spot if they win each of their remaining fixtures.

But Guardiola is refusing to take anything for granted in the title race, insisting Liverpool could even still triumph, despite Jurgen Klopp's side sitting third, four points behind City and having played an extra match.

"Everything can happen," the Spaniard told Sky Sports. "We still have four games, three games for them [Arsenal].

"What happened to Liverpool, dropping a few points in the last games, can happen to us and can happen to Arsenal. So tough games for everyone. We have Fulham away, Spurs away, which is really, really difficult.

"Now we have two or three days to recover, the players can rest and prepare for the four finals that we have and the FA Cup final."

City did not have things all their own way against their relegation-threatened opponents.

Gvardiol's opener came in the 32nd minute before Haaland doubled their advantage after coming off the bench in the second half, but in between, Forest missed a hatful of chances, the best of them falling to Chris Wood.

Guardiola continued: "It was a difficult game, we knew it. So difficult. They played with bravery, they have incredible fast players and a lot of quality.

"We found a goal when in that moment we were 10 against 11, we were lucky. The pitch conditions, they missed a lot of chances for that reason.

"Great victory, because we had a lot of games behind us, but now we have a long week to recover."

Moussa Niakhate, meanwhile. believes Forest showed they have what it takes to be successful in the Premier League relegation battle.

The result leaves Nuno Espirito Santo's side just one point above the relegation zone with three games to play.

But Niakhate insists there were plenty of positives to take from how they performed against the defending champions.

"It’s difficult today, because I think we played very well," he told Sky Sports. "The difference is inside the box. I think we had three big chances in the first half, we didn’t score. That’s the difference today.

"We had a plan. We worked really well all the week, and we are happy because the first eleven just follows the plan, also the players on the bench, who came on, played very well.

"Just small details today. The effort was great, but then after 70 minutes we were dead. That’s why they score the second one, but we can be proud today."

Forest were their own worst enemy at times, missing a plethora of chances to get back into the game.

The best of them fell to Chris Wood, who scuffed a first-half effort from close range when picked out unmarked in the penalty area.

In total, the Tricky Trees landed 14 shots on goal, three more than their opponents, but only two of them were on target.

Niakhate says that clinical edge was the only thing missing from their performance, but believes they have proved they are up for the relegation dogfight.

"Manchester City are the best team in the world," he said. "This is the difference between the big team and us today. We have to be positive, because I think we can be proud. If we can win [play] like this in the next three games, we’ll stay up.

"Everybody will say it’s easy to have the mentality to make the effort against Manchester City, because it’s the best team in the world, so everybody is motivated.

"To do this away in Sheffield is more difficult, but we have to do it. We have to do it in Sheffield, in two weeks against Chelsea, and maybe it will be a final in Burnley, the last game.

"We have to keep everything today. Everything is positive. Tuesday we will start a new week, and if we do this the next three games, we will be here next season in the Premier League."

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