Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has reacted to VAR controversies in the 3-1 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.

Guardiola is gradually witnessing his title defence crashing down after Liverpool went eight points on the top of the Premier League table.

Guardiola said to the referee “thank you very much" after the highly-charged title clash but insisted he was not being sarcastic about the officials.

Guardiola clearly believed his side were denied two big penalty appeals that could have changed the course of the game.

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Pep later remarked: “No, it was not sarcastic. It was thank you so much. I said the same thing after the Tottenham game. 'Thank you so much.' Most of the time, I go over to the referees and my colleagues and I say good luck all the time.

“Mike Riley, his people, you have to ask them. Talk about the game, ask them. I'm here to talk about the game. Every time I'm being asked why one day it's handball, the next day it's not. Don't ask me. Ask to them.

“But I don't have regrets, if the players know I'm not happy then I tell them but I told them at half time and full time: 'Heads up guys, don't use social media to give your thoughts about what happened in some departments. Talk about football and how good it was.'"

Manchester City will entertain Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League after the international break.