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Liverpool the Only Team That Can 'Hurt' Manchester City, Says Sergio Aguero

Rory Marsden@@roomarsdenFeatured ColumnistNovember 5, 2019

Manchester City's Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring their first goal to equalise 1-1 during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Southampton at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on November 2, 2019. (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /  (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)
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Sergio Aguero has said Liverpool are the only side that can challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title, but he added Manchester United remain the Sky Blues' biggest rivals. 

City pipped Liverpool to the title by a single point last term in a record-breaking title race:

Match of the Day @BBCMOTD

Man City 9⃣2⃣ Liverpool 9⃣1⃣ This is the first season in Premier League history where two teams have won 90+ points 👏 #MOTD2 https://t.co/lTI42n78xM

Match of the Day @BBCMOTD

Finishing on 97 points would have won Liverpool the title in all but one of the last 26 seasons 🤯 #MOTD https://t.co/KK4UFAG4se

After 11 games of the 2019-20 campaign, Liverpool have a six-point lead over the Sky Blues at the top of the table, and the two sides meet at Anfield on Sunday in a potentially season-defining clash:

Premier League @premierleague

11 down, 27 to go... https://t.co/IXdrbTY3OD

Aguero acknowledged Liverpool must now be considered City's main challengers for England's most prestigious piece of silverware, but he said games against United remain the biggest of the lot, per France Football (h/t Will Magee of Goal): 

"[The Liverpool game] may be the Clasico for television, but for us, the Clasico, it's the match against United. Liverpool have always been a tough opponent. But when I arrived, the team we were fighting for the title was United.

"Initially, it was something strange in [Manchester] that City competes against United. Then there was Chelsea. But these last four seasons, Liverpool have become a very strong team and are now fighting with us to win the Premier League.

"They are the only team in the league that can hurt us. They have been chasing a new league title for years. Last season, they didn't go all the way, so they are very motivated. This year, they are in front of us and will try to go to the end."

Aguero, 31, joined City in 2011 from Atletico Madrid for a reported fee of £38 million. Nine years on that looks like one of the best pieces of business in the club's history because the Argentinian is now City's all-time record goalscorer:

Sky Sports Statto @SkySportsStatto

⚽️ Goal 2⃣4⃣2⃣ in a Manchester City shirt for Sergio Aguero on his 3⃣5⃣0⃣th app for the club. #CarabaoCup #MCFC https://t.co/6gvJEtV5jY

He has netted at least 20 league goals in each of the last five seasons and is well on his way to hitting that mark again in 2019-20 with nine goals in 10 appearances this term in the English top flight.

Aguero will be vital for manager Pep Guardiola on Sunday. City will be looking to beat Liverpool and close to within three points of their title rivals.

Since their shock home loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on October 6, City have won five on the bounce in all competitions. 

Liverpool, meanwhile, are yet to be beaten in the Premier League this term and have not lost a home game in the English top flight since April 2017, a run of 45 matches.