Guardiola pinpoints Liverpool problem as Klopp surrenders Reds title charge

Pep Guardiola believes Liverpool's drop off in the final third has cost them this season.

The Manchester City boss saw his side go seven points clear at the summit as they registered their 16th straight win in all competitions against Tottenham.

They saw the Reds crowned champions last season, but the Merseyside outfit have been unable to mount a meaningful defence this term.

Klopp conceded after their 3-1 defeat at Leicester that the title was now over.

He said: "I don't think we can close the gap. We are not worrying about the title, we are not silly."

Injuries have hampered Liverpool's ambitions this term, but their usually prolific front three have been available for much of the season.

And Guardiola believes they are not at their clinical best which proved to be the difference for much of last season.

He said: "In the boxes they are not as clinical as they were before but the quality of their team is still there. As a spectator, I always enjoy watching Liverpool."

Mohamed Salah remains the league's top scorer having bagged his 17th strike of the season at the King Power.

Sadio Mane has scored seven times while Roberto Firmino has come up with six goals.

But the Reds have been nowhere near as efficient in the final third as they have been in previous seasons.

Klopp's side are on track to register their lowest goals total in the past four years.

They went four games without a goal during a spell that saw them lost two and draw two over the New Year period.

Liverpool are now 13 points behind rivals City having played a game more.

They were undone by Guardiola's side at Anfield last weekend which bought to an end a long unbeaten home streak against City.

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