Pep Guardiola claimed he didn’t expect to be taunted by Liverpool supporters over the possibility of being fired as he explained his six-finger response to the chants.

The strains of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” could be heard around Anfield on Sunday afternoon as Mohamed Salah’s penalty ultimately earned the Reds a 2-0 Premier League win.

Guardiola was caught on camera lifting six fingers up to the crowd – while denoting the number of titles the Catalan has won at City, Liverpool fans were quick to point out it is also the number of times their club has been crowned European champions.

And when asked about the incident, Guardiola – whose side have now lost six of their last seven games and four in a row in the Premier League – said: “I’m so proud for my six Premier Leagues against that team and the previous team, I’m so sorry.

“I didn’t expect Anfield to start to chant at 0-2 that I should be sacked.

“Maybe I deserve to be sacked, honestly! With the results we’ve had, maybe I’m still in a job because of the six Premier Leagues. Otherwise the higher-ups will think ‘it doesn’t work’.

“I didn’t expect they were singing at 1-0. Maybe at Brighton they did it, but at Anfield I didn’t expect that. But it’s fine, it is what it is. It’s part of the game. “When you win you laugh, when you lose they laugh and you have to accept it.”

City are now 11 points adrift of leaders Liverpool, for whom Cody Gakpo scored early on to help secure only a second win in 10 in the league against the Etihad outfit.

And Guardiola added: “I’ve said many times there have been incredible battles. The time with Jurgen were unforgettable for me, and the battles with Liverpool have always been forever.