Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes Chelsea and Liverpool have an advantage in the Premier League title race because of their lack of European football this season.
A hard-fought 3-0 victory over Hull City ensured his charges got all three points and remained seven points behind Antonio Conte’s table-topping west Londoners.
But Guardiola insisted he believes they, and Jurgen Klopp’s Reds, are in pole position for the title due to their lack of European football.
The former Barcelona boss said: “Liverpool went so close one year because they had one game a week and last year, for Leicester, it happened the same.
“This time Chelsea and Liverpool are the ones. We have played seven more than them – and important games like the Champions League – which is why it will be tough.
“But football is unpredictable. We have to do absolutely everything to be there. Sometimes when you believe something is done it isn’t.
“What we have to do is win every game and analyse and see if that is enough.”