Gundogan: Liverpool away will be real test

Ilkay Gundgoan is already looking ahead to Manchester City’s trip to Liverpool in two weeks as a “real test” of their title defence.

City moved to second in the Premier League with a 5-0 victory over Cardiff City on Saturday as they put their shock Champions League loss to Lyon in midweek behind them.

Pep Guardiola’s side have games against Oxford United, Brighton and Hoffenheim before the trip to Anfield, where City have won just once in 35 years, but Gundogan already has one eye on the October 7 clash.

“At the moment it looks like those games against the top clubs will be important,” the Germany international told reporters. “We play Liverpool in a couple of weeks so it will be a real test for us at Anfield as they are also getting their points.

“Liverpool is a very strong team and Chelsea are very strong. United just dropped points against Wolves, like we did, so I think Wolves will cause a lot of problems.

“But it’s up to us in the end. We are trying to play like we did [on Saturday] because when we are ready like this our chances of winning games and titles are the highest. So that’s what we try to achieve every game.”

Gundogan hit a stunning strike in Saturday’s emphatic victory in Wales while Riyad Mahrez added two late goals — his first for the club since his £60 million move from Leicester City in the summer.

The Algerian winger has made just two Premier League starts since his switch but has said he is starting to get to grips with playing under Guardiola.

“It’s not been a tough time for me,” Mahrez told reporters. “When you arrive at a big club you have to adapt to the style.

“The manager has helped me a lot, and in the last two weeks, I have felt a lot better. You can see that on the pitch. I never complain, I just work hard in training, and it’s paying [off] now. But I have to keep going — scoring is not a final thing.

“The style of play is different, but I stayed at Leicester for nearly five years and knew I would need time to adapt at a new club like City.”