Published 15:27 9 May 2024 GMT+1

A Liverpool legend claimed Pep Guardiola is “no genius” and suggested he would potentially fail if he were to leave Manchester City.

City are a mere three wins away from claiming a record fourth Premier League title in succession.

Much of their success can be credited to the club’s eccentric but pioneering manager, Guardiola, who has won five Premier League trophies, four Carabao Cups, two FA Cups, a Community Shield, Champions League, Club World Cup and Super Cup in his eight years at the club.

However, Liverpool legend and former Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness insisted that the Spaniard is “no genius”, with his success largely credited to having the best players at every club he’s been at.

Speaking on William Hill’s new podcast Three Up Front, Souness said: “He took over an exceptional group of players in every case.

“City are the richest team in England and they only needed the slightest bit of tweaking when he took over.

“He obviously manages players very well, but there is no genius there. It is just about having the best players.

“If you have the best manager in the world with an average group of players then you won’t win anything.

“If you have an average manager with great players then you have a chance at being successful. I’ve been in dressing rooms where everything had been set in stone for the squad by the players that came before us, so the manager barely had to speak to us.

“I’m not exaggerating when I say team talks at Liverpool were sometimes as simple as, ‘Today you’re playing a team in the bottom three, we’re top of the league. If you don’t match them for effort they might beat us, but if you do match them for effort, then we’ll win’.

“But for that to work, you’ve got to have top players.”

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