Pep Guardiola feels Manchester City have become victims of their own success this season.

The City boss believes that in accruing a remarkable 198 points and winning five trophies over the past two years, the Premier League champions have set new standards in English football.

The problem for them this term is that, inadvertently, City have also driven up standards at Liverpool as they try to compete.

After pushing City all the way last season, the Reds have been well placed to take advantage of the slight dip in intensity that Guardiola's side have, perhaps not unexpectedly, experienced this year.

Guardiola said: "He (Klopp) has maintained last season's standards for this season.

"This is their second season at this level and it helps they didn't win a (league) trophy since a long time ago. You smell it. I felt that in the first season when we took 78 points.

"There were just two or three players in the locker room who had won the Premier League. The rest hadn't won it. We wanted to feel this experience and lift the trophy.

"To stay at that level for three, four or five years is so difficult. We are struggling a little bit to try to challenge and lift this situation."