Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus have a 'top relationship', insists Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola despite competition between the strikers

Pep Guardiola believes Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus' display up front for Manchester City on Saturday shows the strikers have a 'top relationship'. 

Aguero scored once and Jesus netted a brace in a 5-0 win over Liverpool, the third time the strikers played up front together this season.

Guardiola believes Aguero's assist to Jesus for City's third, when he decided to square it despite being clean through on goal, proves the pair can thrive as a partnership.

Gabriel Jesus celebrates with Sergio Aguero after Manchester City's third goal on Saturday

'I don't say to the striker pass the ball, I say score a goal please,' Guardiola said. '[But] it means a lot to me, what Sergio did. A lot.


'They are both good guys. Both are exceptional players, their relationship is top. 

'Of course, both want to score goals and we need that, that egoism, wanting to score more than your team-mate, but they have the ability to choose the right decision like Sergio did.

'He was one-against-one with the goalkeeper but had the ability to pass the ball. When this happens the next time, Gabriel is going to do it for Sergio, and that's good.'

After joining up with City's squad in January, Jesus started ahead of Aguero during a stretch of last season with Guardiola preferring to play a lone striker.

Aguero became the top non-European scorer in Premier League history by netting the opener

Aguero became the top non-European scorer in Premier League history by netting the opener

Aguero admitted in April that he had a fight to keep his place in City's line-up following the emergence of Jesus, saying that one day he could be forced to step aside for a younger striker.

But the City boss has chosen to deploy the forwards up front together in three of their four matches so far this season - with the 2-1 victory over Bournemouth the only exception as Jesus was chosen ahead of Aguero.

Substitute Leroy Sane added a brace off the bench against Liverpool at the Etihad as City made their man advantage count following Sadio Mane's 37th-minute red card.

City have made a strong start to the campaign with three wins and one draw from their opening four Premier League games to begin Guardiola's second season in charge.

Pep Guardiola chose to play both Aguero and Jesus in a 3-5-2 formation against Liverpool

Pep Guardiola chose to play both Aguero and Jesus in a 3-5-2 formation against Liverpool