Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says the intense pressure on his players is driving them on.

With five games to go, the Blues know – as things stand – dropping points would be a hammer blow to hopes of a fourth successive Premier League title. But Guardiola says his players are reacting exactly the way they need to, knowing there can be no slip-ups on the run in.

“We know if we don’t win or draw there won’t be chance to fight until the end,” said Guardiola. “Of course the pressure is there, otherwise we can’t perform like that. Five games left, onto the next one that all I can say.”

He added: “What we have done in the past doesn’t mean it will happen in the future. To do it again, you have to make it happen. I’d love to say if you win the last three Premier League titles, you will win 4-0 here and win the next games – but it doesn’t happen [like that].

“We have five games left – tough ones like Forest and what they’re playing for. What happened to Liverpool can happen to us and Arsenal. People don’t expect them to lose against Crystal Palace and yesterday against Everton, but it can happen – it’s football.

“Everton playing [to keep clear of the] relegation zone, play for their lives. Like Forest. Maybe it was a real contender for us, my appreciation for Liverpool is higher than ever. You see the game they draw at Old Trafford the chances they miss, or yesterday, Pickford was exceptional.

“Against Palace the chances they miss. Tell me the reason why, I’ll tell you why – it’s football.”