Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has claimed that his players need to have a "cold mind" when they take on Liverpool on Saturday evening.

The Chilean coach's side are currently at the top of the Premier League table, level on points with Arsenal after winning eight games, recording two draws and suffering two defeats.

The team are also flying high in the Champions League after qualifying for the first knockout round, and Pellegrini has insisted that the club are not feeling the pressure.

"It's important to retain the same way we finished," Pellegrini told reporters. "At the moment we are having a good season. We're the only English team to have qualified for the next round of the Champions League. We've also qualified for the quarter final of the Capital One Cup and we're top of the Premier League.

"One of the most important things in important games is to have a cold mind, not a cold heart but a cold mind. It's so important and I hope we can do it.

"I think that for me is never a pressure to be top. You always want to be top as you only depend on what you can do. For me it's a pleasure to be top and we'll continue to try to be. It doesn't matter what happens, we're always the favourites with the media and seen as the team to beat."

Liverpool are nine points adrift of City in the league.