Pellegrini: There is no favourite for Premier League title
Manuel Pellegrini has shunned talk of title favourites while his Manchester City side has 12 matches remaining, but did predict his squad to make a "final push" for the summit of English football.
Leading British bookmakers currently have Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur as the most likely to hoist the Premier League trophy, with Arsenal and City expected to fall short.
Pellegrini's side meets Liverpool again on Wednesday, just three days after it beat the Reds on a penalty shootout in the League Cup final.
"It was a very long game in the final," Pellegrini conceded about Sunday's match that ended 1-1 after 120 minutes.
"Both teams will have had the same rest, but it is easier when you have won. I don't know how Liverpool will react - it is a different competition. We will have a tough game, but we will try to win."
The Chilean will hope that his squad confidently takes the Anfield pitch following its 3-1 defeat of Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League and League Cup triumph, and puts an end to a run of two straight league defeats
"For our team, the three points are important if we are to be involved in the title until the end. There are no favourites for the title with so many games still to play. Of course, it is easier for Leicester and Tottenham but we know what the Premier League is like."
Pellegrini's sentiments are at odds with Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri, who believes that Spurs are the most fancied outfit to win the division. Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino made efforts to silence that belief on Tuesday.
Related: Pochettino dismisses Spurs 'favourites' tag
City won 10 of its final 13 games of the 2013-14 campaign to nick the title from Liverpool, something it looks to draw on as mid-May draws nearer.
"That season we always had three games in hand," Pellegrini continued. "We had to win them but it was important in that season. We only have one game in hand now and have to wait for other teams to slip up but I am sure we will have a final push.
"When you have the experience of winning the title, it is easier - you must always trust your experience."