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Pep Guardiola does not think that the Premier League schedule will have an impact on the title race between Liverpool and Manchester City.
The champions of last season are four points behind Liverpool, but have a chance to put pressure on the leaders in their next two games.
City will travel to Newcastle United on Tuesday with Liverpool hosting Leicester City the next day, and the Reds' next West Ham game next Monday comes 24 hours after Guardiola's men hosted Arsenal at Etihad Stadium.
As City tries to catch up, they can now take the initiative, having won their last eight games in all competitions, without giving up any goals in the previous six.
Guardiola does not think that the fact that Liverpool or City play their matches first in the finals is irrelevant.
"In both situations, playing before or after, we have to win the games or it's over," he told reporters.
"Every game is a final, the cups are also a final, Burnley [on Saturday in the FA Cup fourth round] was a final. What should we do next? We must win. Before? We must win. Simple.
"All the teams want to fight for the title and feel the pressure, we have it and we feel it, we have to manage it. [for] – many, many games – many games in our legs and in our minds change competition day by day.
"Believe me, we do not think about it, do not be distracted by what we have to do, same thing against Burnley, imagine what Newcastle will do in the game and focus on what we need to do. Is the only way to be consistent and try to win every game. "
RB: "We were disappointed (to leave the @EmiratesFACup) but we have to focus on a very, very difficult game. When you play against @ManCityyou must forget and make sure to do the right things on the ground. " #NUFC pic.twitter.com/0mwjWNWplU
– Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) January 28, 2019
Rafael Benitez's Newcastle had used a defensive approach in the recent clashes between the Premier League and City, but Guardiola suggested the tactics suited his side.
"Newcastle plays quite similar to Burnley, the configuration will be quite similar," he said. "Of course, each team is different with respect to the installation and, according to our experience with Newcastle these past two seasons, against my colleague, it's still difficult – 0-1 here, 3-1 here – so it was tight.
"It will happen tomorrow because they will defend themselves very well, but at the same time, I think we are better at attacking this type of defense, we are better at controlling their counterattacks, conceding few hits and attacking more effectively."
The boss knows it will be difficult tomorrow night.
How do you feel about #NEWMCI?
#mancity @marathonbet pic.twitter.com/0238HQiNci
– Manchester City (@ManCity) January 28, 2019
Benitez has no illusions about the magnitude of the challenge his Newcastle team faces, who are 17th in the Premier League and who were knocked out of the FA Cup at home against Watford on Saturday.
"If you badyze how they play, they will have three or four of the fastest players in the Premier League," said Benitez.
"They won the title because they are a very good team, they have everything – but we will try to use our strengths, I am convinced that we can do well, but at the same time we have to do everything that is perfect to have a chance. "
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