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Manchester City defeat to Liverpool 'fake', says Manuel Pellegrini

Manuel Pellegrini, manager of Manchester City
Image: Manuel Pellegrini is confident Man City can recover from their defeat to Liverpool

Manuel Pellegrini is confident Manchester City will bounce back after a "fake game" against Liverpool - and is determined to see his side top their Champions League group.

Title favourites City were knocked off the top of the Premier League as they were thrashed 4-1 by the Reds and Pellegrini wants a reaction against Juventus on Wednesday.

City are in Turin this week for their penultimate Champions League Group D game and, although they have already qualified for the last 16, they want to secure top spot.

Pellegrini said: "I think that we finished with the game - that very bad game that we played on Saturday - on Sunday morning.

"This is a different competition and a different game. We are thinking of playing here against Juventus at home and trying to beat them.

"It was a strange and fake game that we played, and that is the past. It is more important to think about the future. I hope we will return to our normal performance."

Aleksandar Kolarov of Manchester City leads the warm up during a training session
Image: Manchester City players take part in a training session ahead of the clash with Juventus

City have won their last three matches in the competition to secure their place in the knockout stages with two games to spare.

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The first two results in that sequence came courtesy of last-gasp winners but Pellegrini's men were highly impressive in their last outing away at Sevilla.

Pellegrini hopes that has provided a blueprint for the future as City look to progress beyond the last 16 for the first time and transfer some of their domestic form to the European stage.

Fernandinho celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League football match Sevilla v Manchester City at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium
Image: Fernandinho scored as City beat Sevilla 3-1 last time out in Europe

The Chilean said: "I think first of all we need to play in Europe in the same way we did against Sevilla.

"We have a lot of experience now, better than the other years. We need a performance in these games.

"We have qualified for the last two years. This year it is important to try to be at the top of the group, not only to avoid Barcelona or other important teams but because it is a test for us to try and win in a difficult stadium here."

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