No Liverpool players would get into Manchester City’s starting XI, claims Joleon Lescott
Not even Virgil van Dijk could displace anyone in Pep Guardiola's current team, according to the former City defender
Joleon Lescott would not take any of Liverpool's players in Manchester City's current starting XI.
Liverpool are two points ahead of their rivals in a tense race for the Premier League title, but City have a game in hand.
Pep Guardiola's men are still fighting on all fronts as they chase an unprecedented quadruple.
And Lescott, who twice won the league championship with City, claims he wouldn't swap a single Liverpool player for anyone in his former club's strongest line-up.
Virgil van Dijk would be the obvious choice - the Dutchman is the overwhelming favourite for this season's personal accolades and many consider him to be one of the best centre-backs in world football.
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Nonetheless, Lescott would stick with City defenders Aymeric Laporte and John Stones if given the choice.
He told SportingBet: "Both Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp will each be happy with their own team and their players suit their styles of football.
"I’m not sure I’d take a single one of Liverpool's players for Man City’s team, but it’s fair to say both have put together great squads.
"From a Man City perspective, I have been very impressed with Aymeric Laporte this season, who has arguably made a similar impact to what Virgil Van Dijk has at Liverpool."
And Lescott has also backed his former club to outlast Liverpool in the Premier League title race and retain their crown.
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He added: "I expect Manchester City to go on to win the Premier League. It is interesting that they’ve been able to overtake Liverpool so quickly.
"I don’t think it’s a surprise that Man City have won the games they have, but rather that Liverpool have dropped points in recent weeks.
"They haven’t performed well in the games they should have done and Man City have been able to capitalise on that.
"Earlier on in the season, the title could have been Liverpool’s to lose but they threw the opportunity away with a bad run of games where they didn’t achieve what they should have done. It’s now in Manchester City’s hands and I don’t expect them to let it slip.
"Retaining the Premier League title will be Man City’s biggest achievement and to become the first side to do it since Sir Alex Ferguson retired from Manchester United is another camel off their backs in the city."