Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has claimed that the Premier League title race this season was never “over.”

At one point in the ongoing Premier League campaign, it seemed as if Manchester City were going to once again cruise to yet another league title in the Pep Guardiola era. Manchester City held a 12-point lead earlier in the season, as its high-octane attack was continually having its way against the best that the Premier League had to offer. Even as there was much expectation that Manchester City would be in a tight title race alongside both Liverpool and Chelsea for the majority of the league campaign, this did not transpire in the early stages of the season.

Now, Liverpool’s recent standout form has it at a mere three points behind Manchester City. Overall, Guardiola sees that the job is far from done for his side, and it will take much from his squad to once again capture a league title.

“Why should it not be exciting for me?” Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Everton match. “I'm more than delighted to be in the position that we are and we want to defend it, attack better and win games.

“The Premier League is so tough. I saw the game yesterday and how Tottenham played last game. Every game is so difficult. That's why the biggest achievement that we achieved in these last years in this club, because it is quite similar the Premier League now to what we did in previous seasons.

“The teams and managers are so intense, so good. That's why it is a big challenge but I could not expect another. When we started the season I could not expect that it would not be like right now it is. I will say I'm more than grateful that we're getting better than maybe I thought at the beginning of the season. … A football team never ends, it is never a finished business, there is always something to get better. We go to training to do it better, otherwise it would be so boring. I never thought it was over. It will be over at the end and we want to be there and this is what I want for my team.”

Liverpool has reeled off six straight wins in league play, which include its recent 6-0 victory over Leeds United. Even as there was early doubt over whether Liverpool would be in this season's Premier League title race, Jurgen Klopp’s side has now made it all a bit more intriguing.

For Guardiola, Liverpool’s recent run of quality performances does not come as a surprise, especially as he did not see that the title race was all done with in the first half of the season.

“When we were champions, it wasn't in December or January,” Guardiola said. “Yesterday we saw Wolves Arsenal, intense, I realize how good both teams are. What's next, try to win the next game. I knew it before, it's not a surprise. A lot of games, arrive they are so good, not just Liverpool.”

For now, Manchester City will look to bounce back from its home defeat to Tottenham in the upcoming away fixture against Everton. At this point in the campaign, every match means much more than the previous one for Guardiola’s side.