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Publication date: Saturday 2 February 2019 1h13
Pep Guardiola thinks his Manchester City players are up for the challenge as they begin a crucial week in the title race.
The champions will face tough Premier League clashes with Arsenal, Everton and Chelsea over the next eight days.
City begins in the period that begins with the visit of the Gunners at Etihad Stadium on Sunday far behind Liverpool by five points.
First, they will have to get rid of the lethargy that saw them beaten in Newcastle, threatened with relegation, in the middle of the week but Guardiola anticipates an answer.
The city director said, "The situation we have this week is the same as the situation of the last two or three months. It happens, it's not new. It's a challenge.
"The only way I know after a negative result is to focus on the game – play and play and play – and have the mentality of saying," OK, we are in February, there are a lot of points to play and still a lot will happen. "
"The situation is simple, we have to improve the way we play with the many details that we have not treated very well. Players know it. This is not news.
City was not up to St James' Park, but as they remain in contention for four trophies, Guardiola insists that there is no harm in motivating players.
He said: "We are not happy with the last performance – everyone knows it. We knew immediately at half-time and after the match.
"But without the motivation, we would not be here, where we are in all the competitions – another cup final, the Champions League in 16th place and the league being there, it would not be possible without motivation.
"I have often said that the players said it was a perfect team, or we are unbeatable. Every game is a challenge to show what you can improve.
"Sometimes there are ups and downs in the season. Sometimes, players can not maintain it for 11 months at the highest level when their opponents are well prepared and they want to beat us.
"This week's results show that it is difficult for all top-six teams to win their own matches.
"There are a lot of games and sometimes keeping it going is difficult, but it's the challenge and we want to face it."
City will evaluate left-back Benjamin Mendy before the match. The French international, recently returned after two months of dismissal, missed the last two games, his return after a knee surgery was carefully managed.
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