Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has warned Liverpool to be ready for a fight next season as they attempt to defend their Premier League title for the first time.
Guardiola confirmed that his players will give the newly crowned champions a guard of honour before the sides clash in tomorrow night's Premier League meeting at the Etihad Stadium.
The City boss was keen to let the Reds know what will be waiting for them next season.
"If your approach is correct it shouldn’t be more difficult but of course the opponents want to show that they are good too," said Guardiola at City's pre-match briefing.
"We’re going to make Liverpool feel next season, and the other opponents, try to fight with them for the next chapters in the Premier League."
The Merseysiders have won the title with seven matches to spare, a season after losing out to City by just one point.
The former champions are on 63 points now, 23 behind Liverpool, and look set to record their lowest points total since finishing with 78 in the 2016/17 season.
"First of all, that a team was better playing at an outstanding level in every single game. We have to do more," said Guardiola as he looked ahead to next term.
"Football helps you to understand and accept that another one is better.
"You have to use from the last game for tomorrow and the future games that we have left and next season to work harder and do better.
"There were many details [between us] I think we are not far away as a team but we have to do a little bit more."
The Manchester club won't finish the season empty handed having already bagged the EFL Cup and they are still favourites to win the FA Cup and in the running for the Champions League.
Arsenal are their opponents in the FA Cup semi-final later this month while they are 2-1 up against Real Madrid after the first leg of their last-16 tie in the Champions League which will be completed next month.
Guardiola wants his players to use what matches are left in the Premier League to get themselves primed for the trophy chase later in the summer.
"When you have three games in one week, we don’t have recovery in the period after two months off," said Guardiola.
"The Newcastle [FA Cup semi-final] game was important. Now the game against Arsenal and Madrid. We have a lot of time to think about the Premier League.
"Tomorrow is an important game and we want to do a good performance and try to take a result and against Southampton to arrive against Arsenal and Madrid in the best conditions to play.
"The best way to do that is to play well in the Premier League first and secure qualification for the Champions League, right now we are not there so that is what we have to do."
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