Laporte happy that Man City are top of league at this stage

Manchester - Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte says they want to be top of the Premier League right now even if title rivals Liverpool have a game in hand.

The champions produced arguably their best performances of a scintillating season to thump Chelsea 6-0 and leapfrog Liverpool at the summit once more.

Since losing at Newcastle last month, City have taken maximum points from three fixtures that could have also seen them drop points, but Pep Guardiola's side have now firmly put the pressure on their Merseyside rivals.

Laporte said: "We wanted to be on top and we are. We continue in the real fight for the title, we are first and this is very important in this fight.

"The luck we did not have there [Newcastle] we have had now against Arsenal, Everton and Chelsea.

"In the end the games are always coming thick and fast here in England."

Laporte also echoed Guardiola's belief that it's always better to be at the top of the table even it is only a provisional place with City having now played a game more than the others.

The Spanish player added: "You can ask anybody, it is always better to be up there to face any type of situation."

City are now preparing for a FA Cup clash at Newport County on Saturday.