Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has opened up after his side's convincing 3-0 victory over Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The hosts entered the showdown on a high after recent victories over Borussia Dortmund and Bournemouth.
And City produced one of their best performances of the campaign, with Erling Haaland, Nico Gonzalez and Jeremy Doku all scoring on a rainy afternoon in Manchester.
It is a result that sends a message to Arsenal, with City now just four points behind the Gunners at the top of the table.
And it also means Guardiola has won his 1,000th match in charge, too, with City marking the occasion with a standout display.
Speaking after the game, the Spaniard said he'd celebrate the victory by spending some time with his children.
"I will go home with my kids who came for the game. I will go home for a few days, stay with my family," he stated.
Guardiola also admitted that his players rising to the occasion had been the best kind of 'present', too, as they continued their title charge.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring for Manchester City in their Premier League win over Liverpool
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Man City have boosted their hopes of Premier League title glory with an emphatic 3-0 win over Liverpool | PA/GETTY/REUTERSSpeaking to Sky Sports, he stated: "My players gave me a good present with this performance against the champions.
"We had to perform good and many good things happened, they all performed to the highest level.
"Defensively it was really good. We know their threat in behind with Mo [Salah] and the quality of [Dominik] Szoboszlai and [Florian] Wirtz and we have incredible energy with our people.
Playing at home and winning is good for the international break.
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Jeremy Doku was impressive as Manchester City crushed Liverpool
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Gigi [Donnarumma] made the saves he should. Both the full-backs were outstanding. The midfielders gave us a lot of passes and control.
"Of course the threat of Jeremy [Doku] was outstanding alongside Erling [Haaland]."
Man City defender Ruben Dias, meanwhile, admitted he was delighted that himself and his teammates could give Guardiola the win on such a monumental day.
"Obviously very happy for him [Pep Guardiola]. We live for games like this. There is no higher level than this kind of level," he said.
"Everyone did a great game.
"We need to push all of us. Everyone, myself, we need to push everyone. The amazing game he [Jeremy Doku] did, the sprint Haaland did to compensate.
"I remember before I came to this club and watching this club - these were the details that made them win so much.
"Differences of everyone ready to show up and ready to sacrifice for the guy next to him.
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"This is not new, this has been going on for a while now. We have been talking about a rebuild since last season.
"Yes, of course, there are new faces because of the ones that left, but that quality stays the same, and we keep on pushing.
"It is still early in the season, feet on the ground."
And Doku added: "I think in a big game it is always more exposed. I am just happy with the game and performance from the team.
"It is always good for the confidence as well, but I have got great players around me.
"He [Ruben Dias] pushes me every day because he believes in me.
"That also gives me the feeling to do more everyday. Having teammates like that makes it easy for me."