Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola declared Liverpool football's greatest ever "pressing" team after Sunday's 1-1 draw.

City had a 1-0 lead at Anfield and looked comfortable at halftime before the Reds stormed back.

Guardiola later said: "We spoke at half-time that in this stadium if you have to defend something you have to play and play and play," said the City boss. “But sometimes you can't because they are really good, they are the best team I ever seen in the high pressing.

“In the Etihad Stadium we were able to do it, in the last two games we were magnificent with our results... we drew there this season (against Liverpool) but we played really good.

“Here is completely different, we play in Anfield, the environment is a reality, the players know it, I know it, opponents know it. But we never tried to forget to play, knowing that somebody it is difficult.

“We gave away the penalty, and sooner or later with this stadium you have 15 or 20 minutes and it looks like a tsunami, oh my God, coming for everybody who has the ball.

“After, when Mateo (Kovacic) came in you can make extra passes and that was the target, because they (Liverpool) are very strong in pressing and counter-pressing and in this stadium it is not easy.

“We never stopped trying to play and with Mateo and John and Phil and Rodri inside we had the quality to keep the ball like we couldn't keep it before. They have their chances, we have our chances and at the end the game is what happened."

Asked if the draw lived up to it's billing, Guardiola said: “I hope so. I think the games between both clubs have been similar for many years. We started really well, even before the goal we had chances. We played with huge personality.

“After the first half it is difficult because with Endo and Mac Allister they have extra passes and the quality to play – before, they were more direct – without losing how direct they can be in transitions."